A 65-year-old man was killed and two BEST employees were injured in a road accident on Monday morning when a BEST bus rammed into a roadside divider in Mumbai’s Mankhurd area. The incident occurred on the Sion-Panvel Highway, opposite a hospital.
Bus Collides with Divider, Pedestrian Fatally Injured
The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking bus was involved in the accident that led to the death of Bhaskar Raosaheb Pande, who was standing near the divider at the time of the incident. He was rushed to Rajawadi Hospital, where he was declared brought dead by doctors. The bus driver, Banvari Shriram Prasad Sharma, aged 51, and the conductor, Vaibhav Waghmare, aged 41, sustained injuries in the crash. Both were admitted to the same hospital and are reported to be in a stable condition.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that the accident occurred on Monday morning. The police have initiated an investigation to determine the exact cause of the collision. This incident adds to a series of accidents involving BEST buses in the city, prompting renewed concerns about road safety and the operational standards of the public transport service.
Recent Incidents Raise Safety Concerns
The frequency of accidents involving BEST buses has become a significant concern for Mumbaikars. Earlier in July, a BEST bus veered into oncoming traffic in the Andheri area, hitting approximately 14 vehicles and causing minor injuries to four people. In another incident on July 10, a BEST bus collided with 14 vehicles in Andheri, injuring six to eight people. These events highlight a worrying trend in the city’s public transport system.
Data released previously indicated a rise in fatalities and injuries related to BEST bus accidents. For instance, in the financial year 2024-25, there was a 43% increase in deaths and a 53% increase in injuries compared to the previous year. A significant portion of these accidents have involved buses operated by wet lease contractors and driven by contractual drivers, leading to questions about safety protocols and driver training within the BEST undertaking.
Over the past decade, from 2014-15 to 2023-24, BEST buses were involved in 1,970 accidents, resulting in 173 fatalities. While overall accident figures had shown a declining trend in recent years, with the lowest number of accidents (54) and fatalities (10) recorded in 2023-24, recent incidents have reignited concerns. Between 2020 and 2024, wet-lease operators were involved in 482 accidents, causing 36 deaths and injuring 76 people. Furthermore, RTI data revealed that in the past five years, 834 accidents involving BEST buses claimed 88 lives.
Authorities are investigating the Mankhurd accident, and the continuous incidents underscore the ongoing challenges in ensuring the safety of passengers and pedestrians on Mumbai’s roads. The city’s transport authority faces the task of addressing the root causes behind these frequent accidents to prevent further loss of life and injury.
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The Chenab Times News Desk
