Tragedy Strikes in Mumbai: Kurla BEST Bus Crash Claims Six Lives, Leaves Dozens Injured

On Monday night, a BEST bus collided with pedestrians and cars on SG Barve Marg in Kurla West, according to Mumbai Police. The incident raised safety concerns in the area.

P24 News Media

December 10, 2024

1 minute

Tragedy Strikes in Mumbai: Kurla BEST Bus Crash Claims Six Lives, Leaves Dozens Injured

India

The recent catastrophic accident involving a BEST bus in Kurla West, Mumbai, has resulted in a heartbreaking toll, now confirmed to be six fatalities, alongside 49 individuals injured. This tragic event unfolded late on Monday night as the bus collided with pedestrians and various vehicles along SG Barve Marg, as reported by local authorities.

According to accounts from the police, the incident took place when the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) bus, which was en route to Andheri, lost control. Over a stretch of approximately 100 meters, it struck between 30 to 40 vehicles before ultimately crashing into the reinforced concrete column of the Solomon Building, causing significant damage to its boundary wall. The assessment provided by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) highlighted the severity of the situation, emphasizing the trajectory of destruction the bus left in its wake.

After a prolonged period of more than five hours since the accident, the BEST organization communicated with the media, stating that “based on initial reports, the bus driver lost control.” Further elaborating on the incident, it was indicated that the vehicle's speed increased uncontrollably following this loss of control. In connection to the crash, the driver, identified as Sanjay More, has been taken into custody for further inquiries by the officials.

Emergency responders were quick to react to the scene, with three individuals pronounced dead at the site and subsequently transported to the nearby Bhabha Hospital. As updates emerged on Tuesday, the grim reality escalated, revealing that the death count had risen to six, prompting condolences and calls for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Details surrounding the bus's malfunction suggest that it encountered difficulties while navigating the A322 route from Kurla station to Sakinaka. Eyewitness reports indicate that as the bus careened out of control, it struck pedestrians and various vehicles without warning. Following the chaos, the bus ultimately careened into a residential area known as Buddha Colony before coming to a stop.

This tragic event has compelled the authorities to implement traffic restrictions on SG Barve Marg, a crucial connector to Kurla station. As a response to the ongoing situation, BEST has adjusted its operational routes, redirecting buses from adjacent locations to maintain services, thereby affecting up to 10 routes in the area.

Barve Road is recognized as one of the busiest thoroughfares linking to Kurla station, with numerous passengers relying on buses to access critical destinations, including the Bandra-Kurla Complex and other vital locales from the Kurla bus terminal.

Swift rescue operations were launched, with the injured being promptly transported to local medical facilities for treatment. In the aftermath, the Mumbai Police have initiated a comprehensive investigation to uncover the precise causes and contributing factors that led to this tragic accident, with the aim of preventing similar incidents in the future.

As the investigation continues, the community grapples with the aftermath of this calamity, calling for increased safety measures and accountability to safeguard the lives of all commuters. The impact of this incident resonates deeply throughout Mumbai, underlining the need for a more robust transportation infrastructure and stringent operational protocols within the public transport system.