Kurla BEST bus accident: 7 dead, 42 injured in shocking road tragedy

A speeding BEST electric bus operating on route 332 from Kurla to Andheri unleashed chaos on Monday night, resulting in a horrifying accident that left seven dead and 42 injured. The incident unfolded in Kurla West, where the bus lost control and swerved uncontrollably for nearly 200 metres, smashing into pedestrians, vehicles, and even a police car before crashing into a residential society.

Eyewitness Zaid Ahmed, a 26-year-old resident, described the chilling scene. "I heard a deafening noise and ran outside. The bus had hit multiple vehicles, including an autorickshaw and three cars, and there were bodies lying in front of me," he recounted. Along with his friends, Ahmed helped rescue passengers and rushed the injured to Bhabha Hospital.

Zeeshan Ansari, who was standing near Royal Sweets shop, recalled the bus entering Buddha Colony after ploughing through vehicles and pedestrians. “Many people were lying in a pool of blood. We managed to pull out the driver and moved the injured to the hospital,” he said, emphasizing the harrowing aftermath.

The bus, a 12-metre-long electric vehicle manufactured by Olectra and leased by BEST, was reportedly registered just three months ago under EVEY Trans. Officials revealed that drivers for these buses are supplied by the private operator under a wet lease agreement.

BEST officials have confirmed that the vehicle was new, raising questions about maintenance and operational oversight. Authorities are investigating whether mechanical failure or driver negligence caused the tragedy.

The injured were treated at various hospitals, with many in critical condition. This incident has sparked outrage among Mumbai residents, who are demanding stricter checks on public transport vehicles and better safety measures.