6 Injured as BEST Bus Hits Divider in Powai

A BEST wet-lease electric bus crashed into a road divider in Powai on Thursday morning, injuring six passengers. The accident occurred at around 11.05 am near Powai Vihar Sankul when the bus was travelling towards Bandra Bus Station (West).

The driver of the bus, operated by Evey Trans from Vikhroli Depot, told officials that he was distracted by a car approaching from the left side and lost control of the vehicle, causing it to veer to the right and strike the divider. The injured passengers were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.

The six passengers who suffered injuries in the impact were identified as Ajay Shinde, Sakshi Pisal, Babar Singh, Manoj Gupta, Praneeti Mali, and Nadir Shah Chikode. Officials said all the injuries were minor.

The bus conductor shifted the injured passengers to Paramount Hospital in Sakinaka for medical treatment on the instructions of the wet-lease depot manager. BEST's command and control centre said accident inspectors, bus inspectors, and senior depot officials were rushed to the spot and the hospital for further action.

The exact cause of the accident will be established after the investigation. The latest incident comes at a time when wet-lease buses have been under increasing scrutiny following a series of accidents and technical failures over the past few months.

Since May, Mumbai has witnessed multiple incidents involving these buses, including fires, technical breakdowns, collisions, and fatal crashes. One of the most serious incidents was the July 20 accident near the Mankhurd flyover, where a wet-lease bus allegedly lost control, killing one pedestrian and injuring 10 others.

BEST has imposed penalties on contractors and initiated investigations into these incidents. However, the frequency of accidents has raised concerns over the safety of passengers using the city's public transport system.

Official data shows that accidents involving BEST buses continue to remain a concern. Between January and May this year, 413 accidents were reported, resulting in injuries to several passengers.

The incident has once again highlighted the need for improved safety measures and stricter regulations for wet-lease buses operating in the city.

The safety of passengers is a top priority, and the authorities must take immediate action to address the concerns raised by these incidents.

In the meantime, passengers are advised to be cautious while travelling in wet-lease buses and to report any incidents or concerns to the authorities immediately.

The incident is a reminder that safety is a shared responsibility, and all stakeholders, including the authorities, contractors, and passengers, must work together to ensure that the city's public transport system is safe and reliable.