Elphinstone Road stampede: ‘Phool gir gaya’ was mistaken for ‘pul gir gaya’, says survivor

In her statement, Vishwakarma said a vendor carrying flowers in a basket dropped it on the staircase of the FOB. His shouting triggered the chaos, she said, corroborating the version of other commuters

A flower vendor’s cries of ‘Phool gir gaya [flowers have fallen]’, which was misunderstood as ‘Pul gir gaya’ [the bridge has collapsed], led to the stampede on the Elphinstone Road overbridge on Friday, survivor Shilpa Vishwakarma, 19, told the railway protection force (RPF) probe panel on Tuesday.

The western railway authorities have formed a three-member committee to conduct a probe into the incident, which led to 23 deaths. (HT)

In her statement, Vishwakarma said a vendor carrying flowers in a basket dropped it on the staircase of the FOB. His shouting triggered the chaos, she said, corroborating the version of other commuters.

Vishwakarma suffered injuries to her hands and legs.

According to commuters, a rumour that six people died of short circuit on the other end of the bridge too added to the chaos.

The western railway authorities have formed a three-member committee to conduct a probe into the incident, which led to 23 deaths. The Dadar police is also investigating in the matter.

Hindustan Times had reported that the rumours were the reason for panic among commuters.