A tragic accident unfolded in Mumbai’s Kurla (West) on Monday night when a state-run BEST (Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport) bus lost control and rammed into multiple vehicles and pedestrians. The accident, which occurred at 9:50 pm, left six people dead and 49 injured.
CCTV footage from the scene shows the red bus barrelling down the busy road at high speed, first colliding with an autorickshaw before striking other vehicles and pedestrians. Witnesses described the bus swerving uncontrollably for approximately 200 meters before crashing into the gates of a residential complex.
“The brakes of the BEST bus may have failed,” a municipal corporation official said. The vehicle, identified as a 12-meter-long electric bus manufactured by Olectra, had been leased by BEST from EVEY Trans, with drivers provided by the private operator.
Government bus service (BEST) accident in Kurla, Mumbai
3 lives are lost. The responsibility solely lies on the officials who are responsible for the bus services.
Driving habit of buses is extremely dangerous in Mumbai, I have experienced it myself.
If brake failure is the… pic.twitter.com/iLsW3hzHrl
— Dilshad (@dilshad_akhtar1) December 10, 2024
The bus, operating on route number 332, was traveling from Kurla station to Andheri when the accident occurred.
Casualties and Injuries
The injured were rushed to Sion Hospital and Kurla Bhabha Hospital for treatment. Authorities are working to confirm the identities of the deceased.
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An eyewitness, Zaid Ahmed, who was nearby during the incident, recounted the chaotic scene: “I ran to the spot and saw a BEST bus had hit pedestrians and vehicles, including an autorickshaw and three cars. We rescued the passengers in the autorickshaw and took them to the hospital in another three-wheeler.”
Other witnesses reported that the bus also collided with a police vehicle during its path of destruction.
Bus Details and Investigation
The bus involved in the accident was registered on August 20 this year and was just three months old. According to the Tardeo regional transport office, the bus is part of BEST’s electric fleet expansion initiative.
The official cause of the accident remains under investigation, with brake failure being a primary suspicion. The police and transport authorities have launched a probe to determine if mechanical faults or human error contributed to the incident.
BEST’s Electric Bus Program Under Scrutiny
The accident raises questions about the safety protocols for BEST’s expanding electric bus fleet. The wet lease model, where private operators provide drivers and maintain vehicles, has come under the spotlight as authorities assess its effectiveness in ensuring safety standards.
Local authorities and civic agencies are coordinating relief efforts for the victims and their families. Further updates on the investigation and the condition of the injured are expected in the coming days.
This tragic incident serves as a grim reminder of the need for stringent safety measures in public transportation to prevent such catastrophic events in the future.
