Mumbai BEST Bus Tragedy: 4 Killed, 9 Injured In Bhandup Station Accident

The Incident: A Turn Turned Fatal

The accident involved a nine-meter air-conditioned Olectra electric bus operating on Route 606 (Ring Road). According to Hemraj Rajput, DCP Zone 7, the driver was attempting a U-turn to enter the nearby depot when the vehicle went out of control.

• The Cause: Preliminary reports suggest the driver accidentally pressed the accelerator instead of the brakes while reversing, causing the bus to surge into a crowd of people waiting in a queue.
• The Victims: Four people—three women and one man—lost their lives. Nine others sustained various injuries and are currently receiving treatment at Fortis Hospital and other local facilities.
• Immediate Action: The 52-year-old driver has been taken into police custody. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has announced a financial aid of ₹5 lakh for the families of the deceased.

Eyewitness Accounts and Local Heroics

Local shopkeepers were the first responders at the scene. Bhagwandas, a nearby sweet shop owner, described the chaos, stating that they provided water to the injured and helped them contact their families while waiting for ambulances.

The “Hawker” Factor: A Recurring Hazard

Residents and eyewitnesses have expressed anger over the chronic congestion outside Bhandup station.

• Encroachment: Pedestrians are often forced to walk on the main road because hawkers completely occupy the footpaths.
• Navigation Crisis: Pharmacist Saimini Mudaliyar told PTI that the lane is so narrow that buses struggle to make basic maneuvers, especially during late-evening peak hours when crowds are at their highest.

A Grim December Trend

This is the second major BEST-related tragedy in two years. In December 2024, a similar accident in Kurla resulted in nine deaths and 37 injuries, leading to calls for stricter training for drivers operating under the “wet-lease” model (where private contractors provide the bus and driver).

Incident Summary