Mumbai bus crash: 6 dead, over 43 injured after brake failure

Mumbai: Six people died, and more than 43 others were injured when a bus from Mumbai's civic transport agency, BEST, crashed into pedestrians and vehicles late Monday near the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) L Ward in Kurla. The bus bearing registration number MH01-EM-8228 was going from Kurla railway station to Andheri when the accident occurred, reported PTI.

According to officials, the bus driver on route number 332 lost control of his vehicle due to brake failure. After hitting civilians and vehicles, the bus rammed into a residential society, Buddha Colony and came to a halt. The bus driver has been detained for further investigation, police said.

"It (bus) dashed into various vehicles over a 100-metre stretch and the RCC column of Solomon building. The windows of the bus broke on impact. Locals roughed up the driver," police added.

Three persons were brought dead from the crash site to nearby Bhabha Hospital, where 43 injured are undergoing treatment, officials said. Additionally, multiple vehicles were damaged in the accident, officials added.

The bus was a 12-metre-long electric vehicle manufactured by Hyderabad-based Olectra Greentech, and BEST had taken it on a wet lease, authorities said. The drivers of such buses are supplied by the private operator.

"The bus is just three months old. It was registered on August 20 this year in the name of a company called EVEY Trans," a Tardeo Regional Transport Office (RTO) official said.