A chilling CCTV video has emerged showing the exact moment a Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) bus lost control while taking a sharp U-turn outside Bhandup railway station (West) and ploughed into pedestrians on the footpath late Monday night.
The accident occurred around 10.05 pm when the bus, operating on route number 606, first hit a roadside pole before mounting the footpath and mowing down people standing outside the station premises, police said. The area, usually crowded at night, was thrown into panic within seconds.
Four dead, several injured
Civic and hospital authorities confirmed that four people lost their lives in the incident, while 10 others sustained injuries. At Rajawadi Hospital, officials said a 31-year-old woman was brought dead, while another victim, Prashant Lad (51), remains in critical condition and is undergoing treatment.
Meanwhile, MT Agarwal Hospital reported that three victims were brought dead, and nine injured persons were admitted with varying degrees of injuries. Doctors said some of the injured remain under close observation.
Driver detained, FIR to be registered
The bus involved was a wet-lease electric AC vehicle attached to the Vikhroli depot. The driver, identified as Santosh Ramesh Sawant (52), was hired on a contractual basis. He has been detained by Mumbai Police, and Bhandup police are in the process of registering an FIR against him for causing death due to negligence and rash driving.
Civic officials said preliminary CCTV footage shows the bus taking a tight turn before veering off course, raising questions about speed, braking and driver control.
Investigation underway, safety concerns raised
An investigation is underway to determine whether speeding, mechanical failure or driver error caused the crash. Officials said the vehicle will undergo a technical inspection, and the driver’s duty records will also be examined.
The incident has revived concerns over public transport safety in Mumbai, coming nearly a year after the Kurla bus crash that claimed nine lives. Residents and commuters have demanded stricter monitoring of drivers, especially on wet-lease contracts, and improved safety measures at busy railway station zones.
Authorities have assured strict action once responsibility is fixed, while families of the victims continue to grapple with the shock of the tragic accident.