The death toll from the tragic BEST bus accident in Mumbai’s Kurla West has risen to seven, with 42 others injured, officials confirmed on Tuesday. The accident occurred on Monday night when a bus veered out of control on SG Barve Marg, colliding with pedestrians and multiple vehicles, police reported.
The Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport (BEST) bus was en route to Andheri when it lost control and plowed through a 100-meter stretch, hitting 30-40 vehicles before crashing into the RCC column of the Solomon Building, breaking its compound wall, according to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).
In a media briefing held several hours after the accident, BEST officials stated that preliminary findings indicated the driver lost control of the bus. They added that the bus’s speed unexpectedly accelerated during the incident.
The driver, identified as Sanjay More, has been detained for questioning, officials said.
Three fatalities were initially reported at the crash site, with victims transported to Bhabha Hospital on Monday night. By Tuesday, the death toll had increased to six, later rising to seven as per official updates.
The bus, operating on route A322 from Kurla station to Sakinaka, entered a residential area, Buddha Colony, after hitting pedestrians and vehicles, where it eventually came to a halt.
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The vehicle, a 12-meter-long electric bus manufactured by Hyderabad-based Olectra Greentech, was operating under a wet lease arrangement with BEST, officials confirmed.
In response to the accident, Mumbai Police have closed SG Barve Marg, a major route connecting Kurla station, to traffic. BEST has rerouted buses on 10 alternative routes to maintain connectivity for commuters.
Rescue efforts were swift, with injured individuals transported to nearby hospitals. Authorities are conducting an investigation to determine the precise cause of the accident.
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