A passenger was injured after a contracted BEST bus hit a pillar near Mankhurd Metro station in Mumbai at about 2.15 am on Thursday, following sudden braking by the driver to avoid four pedestrians crossing the road, according to a report by Loksatta – Mumbai.
The bus, operating on route 501, was travelling from Airoli bus station towards the Pratiksha Nagar depot when the incident occurred near the Mankhurd station bridge. The vehicle was operated by Mateshwari, a private company whose leased buses are attached to the Pratiksha Nagar depot.
According to the report, the pedestrians attempted to cross the road suddenly from the left side as the bus approached the Mankhurd station bridge. The driver applied the brakes to prevent the bus from hitting them, after which the bus collided with a pillar of the Mankhurd Metro station.
One passenger suffered injuries to the left wrist and left thigh in the crash. The injured passenger contacted a relative and was subsequently taken to Sion Hospital for medical treatment. The report did not provide details on the passenger’s condition after treatment.
The bus driver and conductor appeared at Mankhurd police station in connection with the incident. Police recorded statements from the bus staff. Police Sub-Inspector Girish Sathe said a case would be registered after the injured passenger appeared at the police station for further investigation.
The damaged bus remained at the accident site until police permitted its removal. With the assistance of a BEST towing vehicle, the driver brought it to the Pratiksha Nagar depot at about 5.30 am on Friday.
The incident places attention on the operating conditions faced by buses moving through busy locations where public transport infrastructure, pedestrian crossings and station-area traffic interact. In this case, the police account cited in the report centres on the driver’s braking response to pedestrians and the subsequent impact with a metro pillar. The available report does not establish whether the pillar or the bus sustained structural damage, or whether any action was taken regarding road design or pedestrian management at the location.
Further action will depend on the police investigation and the registration of the case after the injured passenger’s statement. The report also does not indicate any additional injuries or service disruption arising from the crash.
