Papa you go ahead, I will come: last words of stampede victim

Image
Press Trust of India Mumbai
Last Updated : Sep 29 2017 | 9:07 PM IST
"Papa, you go ahead, I will come, let the crowd thin out," 25-year-old Shraddha Varpe told her father as the two tried to make their way out of the Parel railway station in central Mumbai today morning.
Those were her last words. Kishore Varpe (57), her father, managed to cross the footbridge connecting the Parel and Elphinstone Road railway stations when a deadly stampede began.
He searched for her frantically, only to find that she was among its victims, said a tearful Bhimrao Dhulap, Varpe's close relative who accompanied him to the mortuary of KEM Hospital in the afternoon.
At least 22 lives were lost in the tragedy.
Varpe sat in a corner of the mortuary's waiting area, remembering his daughter's last words and crying.
Both Shraddha and her father worked at the Labour Welfare Board on the Elphinstone road. They travelled to the office together from their house in distant Vitthalwadi in neighbouring Thane district.
They alighted at the Parel station around 10.15 am today and headed for the footbridge which was as usual overcrowded.
Suddenly it started raining, and the crowd on the bridge swelled. Kishore was propelled forward by pressing bodies, while Shraddha was stuck behind, Dhulap said.
Kishore called out to her, and she asked him to go ahead, saying she will wait for the crowd to disperse.
After getting out on other side, Kishore called her on mobile phone, but there was no response. "It was all over in ten minutes, just ten minutes," he said, sobbing uncontrollably.

Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content

*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: Sep 29 2017 | 9:07 PM IST

Next Story