Mumbai: At least 22 people were killed and more than 30 seriously injured in a rush-hour stampede in Mumbai September 29 morning.

The tragedy occurred when a crowd tried to leave a narrow foot over-bridge connecting two train stations after heavy rain, ndtv.com reported.

Television visuals showed a crush of bodies on the bridge, straining against the railing. Screams for help are heard from those trying to escape the weight of the bodies and some were seen jumping off the bridge.

The stampede broke out around 10:30 am near a ticket window on the bridge between the busy Parel and Elphinstone Road stations. According to witnesses, four trains came at the same time. A few commuters slipped leading to chaos in the surging crowd. There were more than the usual people on the bridge at the time, waiting for the rain to end.

“Many were waiting in the rain. There were too many people in a cramped space. When people were trying to rush to their trains, the stampede happened,” said railway spokesperson Anil Saxena.

Visuals showed people on the ground, many not moving at all, and attempts to revive them with water and first aid. Passengers and local people were seen carrying bodies down the bridge. Footwear was seen scattered next to the bridge and rescuers were seen clearing out more from the stairs. The police were trying to control the crowd of commuters.

The police are investigating reports that a short-circuit with a loud sound near the bridge led to panic and people started running.

Praveen Bangar, a senior medical officer at the KEM hospital near the accident site, said 15 people were brought dead.

The two stations are used by much of Mumbai’s local train commuters as there are a large number of offices in the area.

Angry commuters and residents said the bridge is too old and narrow and not strong enough to take the busy sector. “It was a disaster waiting to happen,” remarked a local resident, saying that the station has been overcrowded and there have been multiple demands for more such bridges.

“I have been travelling for five-six years. It has always been like this. We have no choice but to use this bridge…where else can we go? No one listens to us,” said a woman commuter.

Local trains are the lifeline for the 20 million people of Mumbai and accidents are common on the busy network.