Are hawkers to blame? What led to Mumbai BEST bus accident

Four people were killed, and nine others were injured when a Brihanmumbai Electric Supply & Transport (BEST) bus rammed into pedestrians in the Bhandup locality on Monday night.

The bus driver has been taken into custody, and the Mumbai Police have launched an investigation into the crash.

The deceased included three women. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced a financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh to the families of the victims.

"The tragic incident, in which four people lost their lives in a fatal accident near Bhandup railway station in Mumbai, is extremely unfortunate. I pay my heartfelt tribute to them. In this incident, nine people were injured, and I pray at the feet of God for their speedy recovery. The state government will provide financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh to the kin of the deceased," Fadnavis said in a post on X.

What eyewitnesses said

The accident occurred in a busy area near the Bhandup railway station. According to eyewitnesses, the availability of vegetables at lower prices attracts large crowds, which further complicates the situation, reported PTI.

They claimed that hawkers encroaching on the sidewalk forced pedestrians to step onto the road, which led to the fatal accident involving the bus.

Saimini Mudaliyar, a pharmacist, stated that buses terminating at Bhandup station often struggle to make a U-turn outside the railway station due to hawkers and heavy crowds in the late evenings. According to Mudaliyar, the accident occurred between 9:35 pm and 9:45 pm.

Mudaliyar also noted that this was the second such incident involving a BEST electric bus, following a similar accident in Kurla last year that left nine people dead.