A contracted BEST bus collided with a private vehicle and then hit a metro rail pillar near Oberoi Mall in Goregaon on Monday evening, injuring a BEST employee and a passenger. The incident occurred at around 5 pm near the signal below the flyover while the bus was taking a right turn.
According to a report by Loksatta, the bus belonged to Mateshwari, a contractor operating services for the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport undertaking. It was attached to Dindoshi depot and was running on route 705 from Dindoshi depot towards Bhayandar railway station (East).
The bus reportedly brushed against the rear portion of a four-wheeler while turning near the signal in front of Oberoi Mall. It then moved forward and collided with a metro rail pillar. The two injured people were identified as BEST employee Rajendra Sonawane, 58, and passenger Mangesh Modlekar, 57.
Sonawane suffered a serious head injury in the crash, while Modlekar was also injured. Both were taken to the Trauma Care Hospital in Jogeshwari East for treatment. The report said they were later discharged and sent home after receiving medical care.
Following the incident, Mateshwari company accident inspector Kulkarni took the injured people to the hospital. Special accident inspector Navale from the western accident department was appointed to assist with the inquiry into the case.
The damaged bus was towed by a BEST towing vehicle and parked outside the Vanrai police station, according to the report. The action was taken following directions from Rahul Dadas, a police sub-inspector at Vanrai police station.
A case was registered against the bus driver on the basis of a complaint filed by the driver of the private vehicle involved in the collision. The report did not specify the sections under which the case was registered or whether any further action had been announced against the contractor or the driver.
The crash is the latest reported accident involving a contracted BEST bus. Growing concern over such incidents has led to demands for an end to contracted bus services, although the report did not provide a consolidated official record of accidents or a statement from BEST on the broader safety concerns. The immediate police case and the examination of the damaged bus remain the next recorded steps in this incident.
