Deadly Mumbai Stampede Prompts Calls to Fix Rail Network
(WorldNews Asia)

Heavy rain along with unfounded rumors about a pedestrian bridge collapse are being blamed for last month`s deadly stampede that killed 23 people at a rail station in Mumbai, India. In aftermath of the fatal crush on September 29, there are loud calls to fix the creaking and overcrowded local rail network on which 7.5 million people ride every day and which claims more than 3,000 lives each year - sometimes due to falls from packed trains. An official report into the stampede said it was triggered by similar sounding words in Hindi. A vendor shouted `phool gir gaya` (flowers had fallen), fanning the rumors that `pul gir gaya` (the bridge is collapsing). Panic ensued as the crowd on the...