Four Killed, Nine Injured as BEST Bus Reverses Into Crowd Outside Bhandup Station

At least four people were killed and nine others injured after a Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport Undertaking (BEST) bus reversed into passengers standing in a queue outside Bhandup railway station in Mumbai on Monday night. The incident occurred around 10.05 pm in one of the busiest areas of the suburb.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 7) Hemraj Rajput said the bus driver has been taken into custody and those seriously injured were rushed to Fortis Hospital for treatment.

What happened

According to preliminary investigations, the 52-year-old driver was attempting to take a U-turn to enter the adjacent bus depot when he allegedly pressed the accelerator instead of the brake. As a result, the bus rammed into a queue of passengers waiting near the station.

Police said four people — three women and one man — lost their lives in the accident, while nine others sustained injuries.

Government response

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed grief over the incident, calling it “extremely unfortunate.” He announced an ex-gratia compensation of ₹5 lakh for the families of the deceased and wished the injured a speedy recovery.

About the bus

A BEST spokesperson said the air-conditioned, nine-metre Olectra bus involved in the accident was operating on a wet lease. It was plying on the 606 Ring Road route between Nagardas Nagar and Bhandup station.

Immediate rescue efforts

Local shopkeepers were among the first to respond after the crash. Bhagwandas, who runs a sweet shop near the spot, said they immediately called for an ambulance and informed the police. Some of the injured were brought into nearby shops, given water and assisted while efforts were made to contact their families.

Crowding and encroachment concerns

Police said the lane outside Bhandup railway station is one of the most crowded areas in the locality. A Bhandup police station officer noted that hawkers occupy much of the available space, forcing pedestrians to walk on the road.

Several eyewitnesses echoed these concerns, blaming footpath encroachments for pushing commuters onto the carriageway. Saimini Mudaliyar, a pharmacist, told PTI that buses terminating at Bhandup station often struggle to make U-turns outside the station due to heavy crowds and hawker congestion, especially during late evening hours.

A disturbing pattern

Monday’s tragedy marks the second such fatal incident involving BEST buses in consecutive Decembers. On December 9 last year, a BEST bus ploughed into passengers in Kurla, killing nine people and injuring 37 others, raising fresh concerns over commuter safety and traffic management around major transport hubs in Mumbai.