A horrific accident involving a BEST bus outside Bhandup railway station on Monday night has left four people dead and eight others injured, with survivors recounting a tragedy that unfolded in mere seconds. The incident, which occurred around 10:30 PM on December 30, 2025, has sent shockwaves through the eastern suburbs of Mumbai.
Survivors Narrate the Moment of Impact
Eyewitnesses and victims describe a scene of sudden chaos. Narayan Kamble, 58, who works at a garage in CST, was waiting in the bus queue. "Everything happened in a few seconds. It was very scary," Kamble said from his hospital bed at Agarwal Hospital in Mulund, where he is being treated for a fractured left leg. He recalled the distressing aftermath: "When the bus was removed from the accident site and we were dragged outside, I saw people crying because of severe injuries."
Mangesh Dhukhande, 52, a freelance marketer, had just joined the queue after waiting at the station to charge his phone. "It was hardly three to four minutes after I stood in the queue when the bus came and ran over us," he stated, suffering injuries to both knees, his head, and other body parts.
Families in Anguish, Victims in Hospitals
The injured have been admitted to multiple hospitals across the city, many with severe and critical conditions. The news spread quickly, causing immense anxiety for families awaiting loved ones.
Sheetal Hadve's family grew worried when she, a 39-year-old security guard from Kanjurmarg, did not return home at her usual time. Their fears were confirmed when police informed them she was among the injured. Initially taken to M T Agarwal Hospital, she was later shifted to Sion Hospital at 1 AM for advanced CT scans and treatment for injuries on her forehead, eye, knee, and lip.
In a similar ordeal, the family of Ramdas Shankar Rupe, a control panel painter from Goregaon, grew concerned when he didn't call. His son Yash, after unsuccessful attempts to reach him, learned about the accident from a neighbour who was present at the stand but escaped unhurt. Ramdas is currently under observation at Sion Hospital for a possible concussion and nerve damage.
Severe Injuries and Financial Strain on Families
The accident has inflicted not just physical trauma but also significant financial burden on the victims' families, many of whom are from modest backgrounds.
Ravindra Ghadigaonkar, a security guard posted at a Dadar bank, sustained severe internal injuries and fractures on the right side of his body and head. He is now fighting for his life in the ICU of Hira Mongi Hospital in Mulund. His 20-year-old son Shubham, a third-year BSc student, revealed the family's struggle: "My sister borrowed Rs 1 lakh from relatives and we paid a deposit in Hira Mongi as my father’s condition was very bad." Ghadigaonkar is the sole earning member of his family.
Other victims include:
- Jyoti Shirke, 57: A senior nurse from Girgaon who suffered a fractured left leg and head injuries requiring stitches.
- Dinesh Sawant, 48: A security guard posted in South Mumbai, who was on his weekly off. He suffered blunt injuries to his back and legs after being dragged by the bus. He was initially taken to Agarwal Hospital before being shifted to Meena’s Hospital in Bhandup for better treatment.
A City Grapples with Another Tragic Accident
The Bhandup tragedy highlights persistent concerns about road and pedestrian safety near major transit hubs in Mumbai. The incident, where a bus turning towards the stand ploughed into a queue of waiting passengers, has raised urgent questions about traffic management and driver training for public transport vehicles. As the injured continue their recovery in various hospitals, the city mourns the loss of four lives in a disaster that, according to all survivors, transpired in a terrifyingly brief moment.
