At least seven people died, while 43 others sustained injuries, some critically, in an accident on S.G. Barve Road, Kurla (W), on Monday. Police officials have cautioned that the number of fatalities could increase given the grave nature of the accident.
BEST bus accident in Mumbai
The deceased in the fatal Kurla BEST bus accident have been identified as Shivam Kashyap (18), Kaniz Fatima (55), Afeel Shah (19) and Anam Sheikh (20). Three other deceased are yet to be identified.
How it happened
A crowded BEST Bus on route 332 travelling between Kurla and Andheri lost control near the White House building next to L ward office. The fast-moving bus struck multiple vehicles and people walking on the street before finally crashing into the entrance of Ambedkar Nagar at around 9:30pm on Monday. The collision involved five to six autorickshaws, 10 motorcycles, and approximately 10 pedestrians.
“First the bus hit an auto and then it went on to hit vehicles one after another till it crashed into the Ambedkar Colony gate. In the melee, it rammed into several pedestrians and hawkers. There was chaos as people did not understand what was happening. It was like a terror attack. A mob chased the bus and caught hold of the driver and manhandled him until the police arrived,” said Kapil Singh, an eyewitness.
“As I was leaving my house to head to the railway station, I heard a loud noise and saw that a BEST bus driver had hit several pedestrians, rickshaws, and cars.” Ahmed said they rescued some of the injured people trapped in a rickshaw. “We sent them to Bhabha Hospital in another rickshaw.” Sharique Ansari said his car was pushed for 100 metres before the bus halted,” said Zaid Ahmed, an eyewitness from Kurla.
BEST officials have initiated an investigation to determine whether the accident resulted from careless driving. While initial reports suggest brake failure as a possible cause, a technical expert from the traffic division is verifying these claims.
Regional Transport Office chief Ravi Gaikwad confirmed that specialists have examined the vehicle and will assist Mumbai police in determining the root cause, whether it was due to technical issues, brake malfunction or driver negligence.
Mumbai Bus Accident: 4 Dead, 25 Critically Injured After Bus Accident Wreaks Havoc On Road
The authorities have taken into custody the 43-year-old bus operator, Sanjay More, who claimed that faulty brakes led to the collision.
Mumbai BEST bus crash: Locals compare accident impact to ‘terror attack’
Some locals described the accident’s impact as “resembling a terror attack,” which led to widespread panic. A massive crowd gathered at the scene, prompting the deployment of the Quick Response Team (QRT) and the Rapid Action Force (RAF) to restore order.
