Mumbai: An app cab driver lost his life after a BEST bus hit his parked car on the Western Express Highway in Malad East early Thursday. The Samta Nagar Police registered an FIR against the bus driver, Brahma Pawar.
Details of the Incident
The incident occurred around 7 am at Pushpa Park near the Times of India Press bridge. The bus, operating on route 440, was traveling from Borivli East bus station to Wadala depot. The victim, Ramchandra Pal, had parked his app cab on a corner of the Western Express Highway and was standing behind the vehicle to clean it when the collision happened.
A BEST spokesperson stated that the bus crashed into the app cab, resulting in a pile-up as the cab further collided into another car, damaging its rear right bumper and body. Pal sustained severe injuries and was rushed to Shatabdi Hospital in Kandivli, where doctors pronounced him dead.
Police Action and Investigation
The Samta Nagar Police informed Pal's family about the tragedy. Based on a statement given by his family members, police registered an FIR against Pawar for rash driving and negligence. Pal’s body was sent for an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.
The BEST spokesperson said they would conduct an inquiry to ascertain the circumstances leading to the collision. The accident caused significant traffic snarls on the Western Express Highway, as both the bus and the app cab were mangled due to the impact. Police had to remove the vehicles to restore the flow of traffic.
Previous Accidents Involving BEST Buses
This incident is not an isolated one. Earlier on May 14, a 52-year-old BEST bus conductor died after he got sandwiched between two BEST buses in Andheri West. Shekhar Rawate suffered severe injuries in a pile-up involving four buses and succumbed to his injuries. On April 19, a woman narrowly escaped serious injury after a driverless BEST bus rolled backwards and crashed into a structure near Bhandup railway station. The incident occurred in the busy station area, where the woman had stopped at a roadside stall to eat.
Measures to Improve Safety
Officials attribute most crashes to two broad causes: human error and technical faults arising from defects in buses. To strengthen accountability among private suppliers, BEST will impose a penalty of Rs 50,000 on contractors in the event of a fatal mishap, besides recovering medical expenses of the injured. Officials said the financial deterrent is aimed at pushing contractors to enforce stricter compliance, improve maintenance standards and sensitise drivers on road safety.
