MUMBAI: Six people were killed and over 30 injured when a foot overbridge (FoB) in central Mumbai, outside the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CST) railway station, collapsed during rush hours on Thursday evening.

According to eyewitnesses, repairs were being carried out on the overbridge, across the busy DN Road, in the morning even as it was being used. The National Disaster Response Force were called in to join the rescue operations.

The bridge is said to have had structural flaws. It comes under the charge of the municipal corporation, BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation).

A preliminary vigilance inquiry has blamed the repair staff for the mishap and recommended suspension of executive engineer AR Patil who was responsible for repair of the bridge last year.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced Rs 5 lakh compensation to the kin of each of those killed. He tweeted: "Pained to hear about the FOB incident near TOI building in Mumbai. Spoke to BMC Commissioner and @MumbaiPolice officials and instructed to ensure speedy relief efforts in coordination with @RailMinIndia officials."

Celebrities of the film city like Amitabh Bachchan, Hema Malini and Anupam Kher have grieved the deaths. Hema Malini said: "Tragedy, this time in the heart of Mumbai! The foot overbridge at the CST suddenly collapsed... I pray for those who have lost their lives and for those now in hospital for treatment."

"Deeply saddened to know about the bridge collapse in Mumbai. My thought and prayers are with the bereaved families. May God give them strength to deal with this loss," lamented Anupam Kher.

Recently, a 40-year-old bridge had collapsed at the Andheri station in heavy rain. In 2017, 23 people were killed in a stampede at the Elphinstone Bridge.

The CST is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.