Caught On Camera, Pedestrians Rush To Safety As BEST Bus Mows Down 4 In Mumbai’s Bhandup

Mumbai BEST bus accident (Video screengrabs/Social Media)

A CCTV footage of the fatal BEST bus accident near Mumbai’s Bhandup West railway station has surfaced, shedding clearer light on how the tragic incident unfolded on Monday night, even as investigations continue into the circumstances that led to the death of four pedestrians and injuries to nine others.

The incident, which had earlier been reported based on eyewitness accounts and official statements, occurred around 10 pm on Station Road in suburban Bhandup (West), a busy area outside the railway station that witnesses heavy pedestrian movement during late evening hours.

According to police, a reversing bus operated by the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking knocked down several pedestrians, triggering chaos at the crowded spot.

The CCTV footage, sourced from cameras installed in the vicinity of the railway station, captures the bus reversing at the route’s endpoint and ploughing into pedestrians who were walking close to the roadway.

The visuals corroborate earlier accounts that pedestrians had stepped onto the road due to encroachment of the sidewalk by hawkers, leaving little space for safe movement.

The footage shows the bus coming to a halt only after mowing down multiple people, following which bystanders rushed to the scene.

Four people, including three women, lost their lives in the accident, while nine others sustained injuries and were rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment.

Mumbai Police confirmed that the injured included eight men and one woman. The deceased also included one man, officials said.

According to the police, the BEST bus driver has been detained, and an FIR is being registered in connection with the incident.

Mumbai Deputy Commissioner of Police Hemraj Singh Rajput told reporters that a detailed probe is underway to ascertain the exact cause of the accident.

He added that the bus involved would be inspected to check for any mechanical or technical faults, and all aspects of the incident would be examined.

As per PTI inputs, the bus was being driven by Santosh Ramesh Sawant (52), a BEST staff driver, while Bhagwan Bhau Ghare (47) was on duty as the conductor at the time of the accident.

The vehicle involved was a wet-leased midi bus hired from Olectra Greentech.

Under the wet lease model followed by BEST, the contractor bears the fuel, driver and maintenance costs.

A senior civic official said the accident occurred when the driver was reversing the bus at the endpoint of its route, a manoeuvre made difficult due to heavy crowds, hawkers and space constraints outside the station.

Earlier this year, mini buses operating on crowded routes near Bhandup station were withdrawn, but due to a shortage of buses, Olectra-made midi buses were introduced despite operational challenges such as an inadequate turning radius.

Eyewitnesses had earlier told PTI that hawkers occupying the footpath forced pedestrians onto the road, worsening the risk.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed grief over the incident and announced financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh each to the families of the deceased.

In a post on X, he termed the accident “extremely unfortunate,” paid heartfelt tributes to those who lost their lives, and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.

Political reactions also followed, with Mumbai Congress president and Lok Sabha MP Varsha Gaikwad demanding a thorough inquiry.

She alleged that faulty buses, untrained drivers and administrative neglect of BEST were endangering lives on a daily basis.

Meanwhile, the accident site was cordoned off, shopkeepers in the area downed shutters, and a heavy police presence remained till late at night as forensic teams collected samples.