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The tragic bus accident in Kurla, Mumbai, on December 9th, 2024, resulted in the untimely deaths of seven individuals, including 20-year-old Afreen Shah, who was on her first day at a new job. The incident, which involved a BEST (Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport) bus, unfolded on SG Barve Road, leaving a trail of devastation and grief in its wake. Eyewitness accounts paint a horrific picture of the bus swerving uncontrollably for approximately 200 meters before colliding with pedestrians and numerous vehicles. Zaid Ahmed, a Kurla resident, described witnessing multiple dead bodies and the chaotic scene immediately following the impact. He also highlighted the bus's reckless speed before the collision. The sheer scale of the disaster is evident in the reported injuries – 42 people hospitalized, including four police officers on duty at the time of the accident. A total of 22 vehicles sustained damage in the incident, underscoring the force of the impact. The accident site quickly became a scene of intense activity, with emergency services, bystanders, and concerned citizens scrambling to provide aid to the injured and recover the deceased.
Afreen Shah's father, Abdul Salim Shah, shared a heartbreaking account of his daughter's final moments. He spoke to Afreen at 9:09 pm as she struggled to find an auto-rickshaw after finishing her first day of work. He advised her to walk towards the highway to increase her chances of finding transportation. Tragically, just 45 minutes later, he received a call from Bhabha Hospital informing him of his daughter's death. His anguish and grief are palpable in his appeals for justice and stricter measures to prevent similar tragedies. He specifically called for stringent punishment for the bus driver and addressed the ongoing issues of congestion and illegal activities in the area that contribute to unsafe road conditions. His plea highlights the larger systemic problems that need to be addressed to prevent future accidents.
The driver of the BEST bus, 54-year-old Sanjay More, was apprehended by locals shortly after the accident and subsequently arrested by police. He has been charged with culpable homicide not amounting to murder under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), alongside relevant sections of the Motor Vehicles Act. Investigations into the cause of the accident point towards potential brake failure, although expert analysis is yet to confirm this. The bus itself was a relatively new 12-meter electric vehicle, suggesting that the issue may not be solely attributed to the vehicle's age or condition. The driver’s employment history also reveals he had only recently started driving the larger BEST buses and was previously working with the same company in minibuses. Authorities are now working to determine the full chain of events and the responsibility for this devastating accident.
The immediate aftermath of the accident saw an outpouring of support from the community, with individuals helping rescue those trapped in vehicles and assisting the injured. Social media was flooded with videos capturing the chaos and the scale of the disaster. These visuals underscore the severity of the incident and the urgent need for improved safety measures. The Maharashtra Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis, responded swiftly by announcing an ex-gratia payment of Rs 5 lakh to the families of each victim and assuring that the injured's medical expenses will be covered by the BEST and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). This rapid response demonstrates a commitment to addressing the immediate needs of those affected. However, the broader questions regarding road safety, vehicle maintenance, and driver training remain crucial for preventing similar incidents from occurring in the future. The investigation into the cause of the accident must be thorough and transparent to hold those responsible accountable and implement necessary reforms.
Beyond the immediate tragedy, this incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of road safety measures in densely populated urban environments. The ongoing issues of congestion, illegal parking, hawking, and metro rail construction in Kurla, as highlighted by the victims' families, clearly contribute to a risky environment for both drivers and pedestrians. Addressing these underlying infrastructural and systemic issues is crucial for preventing future loss of life. The incident compels a comprehensive review of bus maintenance protocols, driver training procedures, and urban planning strategies to improve road safety across Mumbai. The long-term implications of this tragedy extend beyond the immediate victims and require a multi-faceted approach to ensure such a catastrophic incident is not repeated. The demand for justice, voiced so poignantly by Afreen's father, should inspire a comprehensive response focused on preventing such tragedies and fostering accountability across all involved parties.
Source: 'Left For First Day At Job, Never Returned': Father Of 20-Year-Old Killed In Mumbai Bus Crash