At least Four people were tragically killed and 14 others injured after a Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) bus mowed down pedestrians near Bhandup West railway station on Monday night, December 29, 2025.
The incident occurred around 10:05 pm when the electric AC bus, operating on route number 606, reportedly lost control while attempting a tight U-turn or reversing on the congested Station Road.
Three women and one man were among the deceased, including a nurse and a small-time actress. The driver, Santosh Ramesh Sawant, has been suspended and detained as authorities investigate whether the crash was caused by human error or technical failure.
Bhandup Bus Accident
The accident unfolded during the peak late-evening rush at one of Mumbai’s most crowded suburban transit points. Witnesses described a scene of absolute horror as the 9-metre Olectra midi bus mounted the footpath, hitting a roadside pole before crushing people standing in a queue.
Local residents and shopkeepers were the first to respond, heroically pushing the heavy vehicle to one side to pull out those trapped underneath.
The narrow stretch of Station Road is notoriously congested, with eyewitnesses pointing out that illegal hawkers often force commuters off the footpaths and directly into the path of heavy traffic.
Identity Of The Victims
The fatalities include Mansi Gurav, a 45-year-old nurse at Sion Hospital; Pranita Rasam, a 31-year-old actress; Varsha Sawant, 25; and Prashant Shinde, an employee with the traffic department. Pranita’s nine-year-old daughter was also present during the mishap and sustained injuries.
Medical teams at MT Agarwal and Rajawadi hospitals worked through the night to treat the 14 injured survivors, several of whom remain in critical condition.
This tragedy has deeply shaken the local community, as most victims were simply heading home after a day’s work, highlighting the extreme vulnerability of pedestrians in the city’s bustling suburban hubs.
Official Action
In the immediate aftermath, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced financial assistance of ₹5 lakh each for the families of the deceased. The Mumbai Police have registered an FIR against the 52-year-old contractual driver for rash driving and causing death by negligence.
BEST officials have confirmed that a technical inspection of the wet-leased vehicle is underway to check for brake failure or steering issues. “We will inquire if the driver had undergone proper training for this specific electric model,” stated a senior official to the media, as the transport undertaking faces intense scrutiny over its safety standards and the management of its outsourced fleet.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
This incident is not just a statistical tragedy; it is a systemic failure that mirrors the Kurla bus crash from exactly one year ago.
It exposes a lethal combination of administrative apathy toward pedestrian infrastructure and the risks associated with the rapid deployment of wet-leased buses without rigorous driver training.
Public transport should be a sanctuary of safety, yet Mumbai’s footpaths have become death traps due to encroachment and poor urban planning. We must demand a city where the “right to walk” is protected by more than just empty promises and ex-gratia payments.
