A tragic accident occurred in Mumbai's Kurla (West) last night when an electric bus lost control and crashed into multiple vehicles, resulting in the death of six people and injuries to at least 49 others. The incident took place around 9:45 PM, creating panic and chaos in the bustling neighborhood.

How the Accident Unfolded

The Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking confirmed that the bus, operating on route number 332 from Kurla Railway Station (West) to Sakinaka, went out of control near the Kurla (West) market. Driver Sanjay More reportedly lost control of the vehicle, which sped through the streets, brushing past parked vehicles and damaging auto-rickshaws, two-wheelers, and a police jeep before crashing into the gates of a residential complex.

CCTV footage from the area shows the electric bus hurtling down the road, narrowly missing pedestrians and colliding with roadside vehicles. Eyewitness Zaid Ahmed, who lives nearby, described hearing a deafening noise and rushing to the scene to find the bus had struck several people.

Casualties and Injuries

The victims of the crash include Kannis Ansari (55), Afreen Shah (19), Anam Shaikh (20), Shivam Kashyap (18), Vijay Gaikwad (70), and Faruq Chaudhari (54). Among the injured are four police officers, according to doctors at the Seven Hills Hospital, where the injured were taken for treatment.

Driver and Vehicle Under Scrutiny

The bus driver, Sanjay More, has been arrested and charged with culpable homicide. Initial reports suggest he lacked sufficient experience in handling heavy vehicles. Authorities are yet to determine if he was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident, with blood tests still pending.

The electric bus, an Olectra model, had been in operation for just three months. It is owned by a private company, EVEY Trans, and operated by BEST on a wet lease. An investigation will also examine the bus for potential technical malfunctions.

Questions Raised Over Private Operators

BEST officials noted that the drivers for wet-leased buses are provided by private contractors, raising concerns about their training and qualifications. This incident has reignited debates about the safety protocols and standards followed by private operators supplying buses for public transport.

Police and Civic Response

Following the crash, authorities closed off the accident site for investigation. A detailed probe is underway to establish the cause of the incident, including whether driver negligence or mechanical failure played a role.

This tragic event underscores the importance of stricter oversight in public transport operations to prevent such devastating accidents in the future.