Hawkers Forced Pedestrians into Path of Deadly Mumbai Bus in Bhandup Tragedy, says eyewitness
Mumbai witnessed a tragic bus accident in the Bhandup area on Monday evening, claiming the lives of four pedestrians and injuring nine others, as sidewalk encroachments by hawkers pushed people onto the roadway, according to an eyewitness account.
Saimini Mudaliyar, a local pharmacist who was waiting at a nearby bus stop, recounted the horrifying sequence to PTI. She described hearing a loud impact, followed by the sight of individuals being flung aside as the bus plowed through before coming to a stop further ahead.
Crowds quickly gathered and attempted to lift the vehicle, suggesting several victims were pinned beneath it. Mudaliyar approached the scene and observed a trail of blood along with multiple fatalities—one person with a severely crushed head, apparently run over, and another with a serious leg wound near the thigh.
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The incident unfolded between 9:35 pm and 9:45 pm outside Bhandup railway station, a perpetually crowded spot where affordable vegetable vendors draw large evening crowds, exacerbating congestion. Mudaliyar noted that buses ending their routes at the station often struggle to make U-turns amid the hawkers and throngs of people, contributing to the hazardous conditions that forced pedestrians into the road.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone VII) Hemaraj Rajput confirmed the four deceased were pedestrians, including three women, who had ventured out and were heading home. The nine injured were promptly taken to nearby hospitals for treatment.
Mudaliyar highlighted this as the second fatal incident involving a BEST electric bus, following a similar crash in Kurla last year that killed nine people. She called for a thorough probe into the recurring issues affecting public safety and suggested authorities check if the driver, identified as Santosh Sawant, was under the influence.
In the aftermath, local shopkeepers swiftly shuttered their businesses, while police maintained a strong presence into the early hours. The site was secured, and forensic experts gathered evidence. Rajput stated that the investigation would cover all aspects, including the bus’s mechanical condition, though immediate efforts focused on assisting the injured.