Mumbai bus accident in Bhandup: Eyewitness cites hawker encroachment, crowding near station
Four people, including three women, lost their lives and nine others were injured after a civic-run BEST bus struck pedestrians near Bhandup railway station in Mumbai on Monday night. The accident occurred in a crowded stretch outside the station, an area that sees heavy footfall late into the evening.
According to police officials, the incident took place between 9.30 pm and 10 pm on Station Road, where pedestrians, commuters, hawkers, and vehicles compete for limited space. Those killed were residents who had stepped out in the evening and were on their way back home.
An eyewitness, pharmacist Saimini Mudaliyar, said encroachment by hawkers on the footpaths left pedestrians with little option but to walk on the road. Vegetable vendors selling produce at lower prices routinely occupy the sidewalks near the station, drawing large crowds, she said.
“I was waiting at a nearby bus stop when I heard a loud thud. Within seconds, people were thrown aside and the bus stopped a little ahead,” Mudaliyar said. She added that locals rushed towards the vehicle and tried to lift and push it, fearing that people were trapped underneath.
Mudaliyar described seeing blood on the road and multiple victims lying motionless. Some had suffered severe injuries, suggesting the bus had run over them. She pointed out that buses terminating near Bhandup station often struggle to manoeuvre or take U-turns because of congestion caused by hawkers and dense crowds, especially at night.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Hemaraj Rajput confirmed that an investigation has been launched to examine all possible factors behind the accident, including the movement of the bus, road conditions, and pedestrian congestion. The injured were rushed to nearby hospitals, and police said their immediate priority was medical assistance.
The bus driver has been detained, and officials said due process will be followed as part of the probe. A forensic team also visited the spot, which was cordoned off for several hours. Following the incident, shopkeepers in the area pulled down shutters as police maintained a strong presence overnight.
The accident has renewed concerns about pedestrian safety around busy railway stations in Mumbai, where hawker encroachment and unregulated traffic movement remain persistent issues. Residents and commuters have long complained about the lack of clear walking space and traffic management in such zones.
Mudaliyar noted that this was not an isolated incident, recalling a similar accident involving a BEST electric bus in Kurla last year that claimed multiple lives. She urged authorities to carry out a thorough investigation and take corrective steps to prevent repeat tragedies.
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As the investigation continues, the incident has once again highlighted the urgent need for better crowd control, enforcement against encroachments, and safer road design around Mumbai’s transport hubs.
