Four pedestrians were killed and nine others injured in a tragic accident involving an electric BEST bus near Bhandup West Railway Station late on Monday night. The mishap occurred around 10.05 pm on December 29, when the bus, which was reportedly reversing within the station premises, went out of control and rammed into people standing nearby.
According to official information, the vehicle involved was a wet-lease electric bus manufactured by Olectra, operating on Route A-606 (Sr. No. 34). The bus, bearing number 715, is attached to the Vikhroli depot of the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST). At the time of the incident, the bus was being driven by Santosh Ramesh Sawant (52), while Bhagwan Bhau Ghare (47) was the conductor on duty. Both are BEST staff members. The exact reason behind the driver losing control while reversing is yet to be ascertained and is currently under investigation.
Medical updates received at 5.50 am from multiple hospitals across Mumbai confirmed the death toll at four. Rajawadi Hospital declared Pranita Sandip Rasam (35) dead, while another injured person, Prashant Dattaram Lad (51), was discharged against medical advice (DAMA).
At M T Agarwal Hospital, three victims — Varsha Sawant (25), Mansi Meghshyam Gurav (49), and Prashant Shinde (53) — were declared dead. Hospital authorities said Shinde was brought dead. Three other injured persons, Narayan Bhikaji Kamble (59), Mangesh Mukund Dhukhande (45), and Jyoti Vishnu Shirke (55), are undergoing treatment there and are reported to be in stable condition.
Doctors at Sion Hospital said Sheetal Prakash Hadve (39) and Ramdas Shankar Rupe (59) sustained minor injuries and are stable. Fortis Hospital confirmed that Pratap Gopal Korpe (60) is admitted and stable. In Mulund, Hira Mongi Hospital reported that Ravindra Sevaram Ghadigaonkar (56) is receiving treatment and remains stable. Meanwhile, Minaz Hospital admitted Dinesh Vinayak Sawant (49) and Purva Sandip Rasam (12), both of whom are stated to be stable.
In response to the tragedy, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced an ex-gratia assistance of Rs 5 lakh for the families of each deceased victim. Congress MP Varsha Gaikwad has demanded a detailed inquiry into the incident, raising concerns over the condition of the bus and the training of drivers operating electric vehicles.
This marks the second major accident involving an electric bus in Mumbai. A similar incident was reported in December last year, when nine people were killed after an untrained electric bus driver allegedly lost control of the vehicle.
