4 dead, 9 injured after Mumbai’s reversing BEST bus crashes into pedestrians
Mangalore Today News Network
Mumbai, December 30, 2025: Four people, including three women and a man, were killed after a Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) bus rammed into pedestrians near Mumbai’s Bhandup West railway station late Monday (December 29, 2025). Nine others were injured in the accident.
Calling the incident “extremely unfortunate,” Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday (December 30, 2025) announced an ex-gratia of ₹5 lakh to the families of the four deceased.
The crash occurred around 10.05 p.m. on Station Road when the bus was reversing, according to preliminary information from the Mumbai Fire Brigade control room.
The deceased have been identified as Pranita Sandip Rasam, 35, who was declared dead at Rajawadi Hospital; Varsha Sawant, 25; Mansi Meghshyam Gurav, 49; and Prashant Shinde, 53, all declared dead at MT Agarwal Hospital. Nine others, including a 12-year-old girl, are admitted with stable conditions. One patient, Prashant Dattaram Lad, 51, was discharged after initial treatment.
Of the injured, eight are men and one is a woman. The injured were shifted to multiple hospitals, including Rajawadi Hospital in Ghatkopar, MT Agarwal Municipal General Hospital in Mulund West, Sion Hospital, Fortis Hospital in Mulund, Hira Mongi Hospital in Mulund, and Minaz Hospital in Bhandup. The State government has directed hospitals to provide free treatment to the injured.
The vehicle involved was a wet-lease Olectra bus operating on route A-606 (Sr. 34), attached to Vikhroli depot. The driver, identified as Santosh Ramesh Sawant, 52, and conductor Bhagwan Bhau Ghare, 47, both BEST staff, were on duty at the time of the incident.
A senior official from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s Disaster Management Cell said they received the first alert at 10.05 p.m. and immediately mobilised fire engines, ambulances, and coordinated with police and BEST staff.
Agencies including the Mumbai Fire Brigade, police, BEST staff, and 108 ambulance services were deployed.
Dr. Gayatri Patil, Assistant Medical Officer at MT Agarwal Hospital, said three victims were declared dead on arrival and three others admitted are stable and under observation. A BMC official said they have verified four fatalities and nine injuries so far.
Mumbai Police confirmed that the bus driver has been taken into custody for questioning.
“The bus will be inspected for mechanical or technical faults as part of the probe. The actual reason for the crash will be determined after a thorough investigation,” a senior police officer said.
A BEST spokesperson said the driver will undergo medical tests and the vehicle’s brake and gear systems will be examined. “We are cooperating fully with the investigation,” the official added.
Further investigation is underway to ascertain the exact cause of the accident.