A tragic road accident in the early hours of Thursday claimed the life of a truck driver following a collision with a Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) electric bus. The fatal crash occurred near Aarey Colony, casting a shadow over the new year and coming just two days after another deadly BEST bus incident in Bhandup.
Details of the Aarey Colony Collision
The accident took place at approximately 6:20 am on January 1, 2026, on a rain-soaked road near Gate No. 5 of Aarey Colony. According to preliminary information from BEST and police officials, a private truck bearing Gujarat registration GJ-02 ZZ 7899 was approaching from the opposite direction. It is alleged that the truck driver lost control on the slippery surface, veering into the path of the oncoming BEST bus.
The bus, registered as MH-01 EW 3376, was an electric vehicle on a wet-lease contract from operator EV Trans. It was operating on Route A-478 from Vikhroli depot towards Borivali Station (East). The truck struck the bus on its front-right section near the driver's cabin, causing extensive damage to the windshield and the entire front portion of the bus.
Casualties and Immediate Aftermath
The impact of the collision proved fatal for the truck driver. He was identified as Cheharaj Thakur, a 30-year-old resident of Gujarat. Thakur sustained severe injuries and was rushed alongside the BEST bus staff to the Trauma Care Hospital in Jogeshwari (East). Hospital officials confirmed that Thakur succumbed to his injuries during treatment.
The two BEST employees on the bus also suffered injuries. The driver, Mohammad Rafiq Shaikh (48), sustained a head injury on the left side and injuries to his right leg and knee, reportedly from shattered windshield glass. The conductor, Ravindra Pandurang Shembadkar (56), received minor injuries to his left hand and leg. BEST officials stated that Shaikh underwent a CT scan and was reported to be conscious and stable.
"Preliminary assessment suggests the accident occurred due to slippery road conditions following rainfall," a BEST official confirmed, noting that the private truck appeared to have lost control before the collision. Both staff members received immediate medical assistance.
Investigation and a Troubling Pattern
Police have initiated an investigation into the crash, recording statements and examining factors such as road conditions, vehicle speed, and visibility at the time of the incident. The bus involved was a wet-lease vehicle, though both the driver and conductor were direct employees of BEST.
This fatal accident marks the second major incident involving a BEST bus within a short span. It comes merely two days after a bus rammed into passengers at a bus stop near Bhandup railway station (West) on December 29. That earlier accident resulted in four fatalities and ten injuries, prompting BEST to order an internal inquiry. The back-to-back tragedies have raised serious concerns about road safety and operational protocols during adverse weather conditions in Mumbai.
