A BEST-affiliated Chalo bus lost control at Lodha Junction in Wadala on Monday night, crushing two cars against another BEST bus and injuring five people and a pet dog, with two of the injured reported to be in critical condition. The collision brought traffic to a halt on the busy route and led to the detention of the bus driver for further investigation.
The crash occurred at around 8.30 pm when the bus hit a Creta and an Ertiga that were stationary behind another bus at a traffic signal, according to the Wadala Truck Terminal police. The occupants of both cars were trapped inside the damaged vehicles and sustained injuries, a BEST official said.
The injured were identified as Shivani Pal, 63, and Hassan Shaikh, 33, who suffered head injuries and were in critical condition; Ganesh Indrapal, 75, who sustained head and chest injuries; Balaji Pandurang, 37, who suffered a blunt injury to his left hand; and Madhu Pal, 28, who sustained injuries to the head and left hand. The injured people and the dog were taken to Sion Hospital for treatment.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Mahendra Pandit said the driver and the bus had been taken to the police station for further action. Police were registering a first information report against the driver for rash and negligent driving, while further details of the incident were being ascertained.
The cause of the bus losing control had not been established. Officials were examining whether the crash resulted from a mechanical fault, brake failure, driver error or another technical issue. Police said an expert examination would be conducted to determine what caused the vehicle to veer into the stationary cars.
Traffic on the route was disrupted after the collision but was restored about an hour later after traffic and local police reached the site. A crane was used to remove the damaged cars and buses from the road, allowing the junction to reopen. The incident was reported to police through a call to 100, and legal procedures had been initiated, officials said.
