Kurla Bus Tragedy: Electric Vehicle Mishap Kills 7, Injures 42 in Mumbai
A tragic accident in Kurla (West) involving a BEST electric bus killed seven and injured 42, including four police officers. The driver, Sanjay More, lacked sufficient training, prompting investigations and calls for better safety measures and driver training.
Kurla Bus Tragedy: Electric Vehicle Mishap Kills 7, Injures 42 in Mumbai
In a tragic incident on Monday night, a BEST (Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport) electric bus veered out of control in the Kurla (West) area, leaving seven people dead and 42 injured, including four police officers on duty. The mishap, which occurred around 9:30 pm on SG Barve Marg, also caused significant damage to 22 vehicles.
CCTV footage from the accident reveals the bus driver, Sanjay More, collecting two black backpacks from the cabin and escaping through a broken window moments after the crash. Other clips, ranging from 50 seconds to over a minute, went viral on social media on Wednesday, showing the chaos inside the bus.
Passengers are seen gripping poles and handles tightly, while others stand in confusion, trying to understand the unfolding disaster as the bus struck vehicles and pedestrians.
As the bus finally came to a halt, several passengers scrambled to exit through shattered windows. Footage captured the bus from a side window, while the conductor disembarked through the rear door.
Investigations have revealed that Sanjay More lacked sufficient experience in operating electric vehicles, having undergone only 10 days of training. Police have arrested More on charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder. He has been remanded to police custody until December 21.
In response to the tragedy, officials from BEST and the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) convened meetings with private operators responsible for providing buses under the wet lease model. They highlighted the need for enhanced driver training and additional safety measures. BEST has announced plans to implement mandatory breath analyzer tests for drivers to prevent similar incidents.
A meeting between BEST officials and the Maharashtra transport commissioner resulted in directives to conduct an internal investigation. BEST is required to submit a detailed report to the state government. Private contractors, who are tasked with providing trained drivers and maintaining buses under the wet lease model, have been instructed to share details about their training programs and infrastructure.
The wet lease model, under which private contractors supply buses and drivers while public transport bodies pay a fixed fee, has come under scrutiny. The state transport bodies have been urged to ensure stricter compliance with safety standards and training protocols.
