Mumbai: Fresh details have emerged in the investigation into the deadly BEST electric bus accident in Bhandup, with police confirming that a moment of confusion over the vehicle’s neutral mode triggered the chain of events that led to the deaths of four people.
According to investigators, the 52-year-old driver, who had just taken charge of the bus at Bhandup West near the railway station, mistakenly believed the electric vehicle was in neutral, reported Hindustan Times. When he switched on the ignition and pressed the accelerator, the bus was actually in drive mode, causing it to lurch forward suddenly and uncontrollably.
The incident took place at around 10 pm on Station Road, a crowded stretch where commuters were standing in queues and pedestrians were using the narrow roadside space. The bus mounted the footpath and ploughed into people waiting along the road, leaving four dead — three women and one man — and at least nine others injured.
CCTV footage from the area showed the bus accelerating forward as startled pedestrians attempted to flee. Emergency services rushed the injured to Rajawadi and Lokmanya Tilak hospitals, where doctors declared four victims dead on arrival.
Police arrested the driver at the scene and registered a case under relevant sections for causing death by negligence and endangering life. Officials said the driver told investigators he was unfamiliar with the gear response of the electric bus, which differs from conventional diesel buses.
The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking has ordered an internal inquiry and announced Rs 2 lakh compensation for the families of each deceased victim. The state government has also assured additional assistance.
Senior officials said the probe will examine driver training protocols, safety mechanisms in electric buses, and crowd management near busy railway stations. The accident has renewed concerns over pedestrian safety and infrastructure around Mumbai’s high-traffic transit zones.
