A tragic accident in Mumbai’s Bhandup (West) area left four people dead and nine injured on Monday night when a BEST bus reversed into pedestrians near the Bhandup railway station. The incident occurred around 10 pm on Station Road, a crowded area with heavy foot traffic.
According to police, the bus was at the end of its scheduled route and was being reversed into a designated stop area when it suddenly struck the pedestrians. Eyewitnesses described the scene as chaotic, with people being hit as the vehicle moved backward.
Among the deceased, three were women and one was a man. The nine injured were taken to nearby hospitals, several in serious condition. Emergency responders included Mumbai Police, Fire Brigade personnel, BEST staff, and ambulance services.
The bus driver, identified as 52-year-old Santosh Ramesh Sawant, was taken into custody shortly after the accident. Police have registered a case and are investigating whether human error or mechanical failure caused the collision.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed his condolences and announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 5 lakh to each family of the deceased. He described the incident as “extremely unfortunate” and wished a speedy recovery for the injured.
The Prime Minister’s Office also extended condolences and called for support to the victims’ families.
This incident has sparked renewed concern about road safety in Mumbai, especially regarding public transport operations in densely populated areas where footpaths are often crowded or encroached upon. Authorities are reviewing BEST bus operations to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
The accident highlights the need for stricter traffic management, pedestrian safety measures, and careful manoeuvring of large vehicles in busy city zones. Authorities are expected to release further updates once the investigation into the cause of the crash is complete.
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