A tragic road accident in Mumbai's Malad East area claimed the life of a nine-year-old boy on Friday morning. The incident occurred in the Appapada area when a BEST bus allegedly struck the bicycle the child was riding pillion on.
Victim Identified
The deceased has been identified as Rupesh Dhotre. According to sources, Dhotre was returning home with his 14-year-old cousin after visiting their grandmother nearby. The cousin was pedaling the bicycle while Dhotre sat on the carrier at around 9 am.
How the Accident Happened
A BEST bus overtook the bicycle and allegedly hit it from behind. The impact caused both boys to fall onto the road. Tragically, Dhotre went under the rear tyre of the bus. His father, who was returning home at that time, witnessed the accident. He and local residents immediately rushed the boy to a hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arrival.
Legal Action
The police arrested the bus driver, identified as Dilip Gangad, 34. He has been booked under charges of negligence causing death. Investigators are recording statements of witnesses and analyzing CCTV footage from the area to ascertain the sequence of events.
This incident has raised concerns about road safety in the locality. Authorities are expected to review traffic management measures to prevent such accidents in the future.
