Mumbai: The death toll in the BEST bus accident in Mumbai rose to seven, officials said on Tuesday as experts inspected the wet-hired vehicle to determine if it had any mechanical fault. At least 42 other people were also rushed to various hospitals after being injured. in the incident that took place around 9:30 pm on Monday at SG Barve Marg in Kurla (west), when the bus rammed into pedestrians and a few vehicles after its driver lost control of the wheels, they said.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday expressed deep sadness over the loss of lives in the incident and prayed for the speedy recovery of those injured.

In a post on X, Fadnavis announced financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh to the parents of each of the deceased from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.
The medical expenses of the injured will be covered by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation and Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST), he said.

“We stand with the families of those who lost their lives in this unfortunate incident. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured,” the CM said.

Necessary instructions have been issued to ensure that the victims and their families receive prompt assistance, he assured.
The BEST bus, after mowing down pedestrians and vehicles, entered a residential society, Buddha Colony, and stopped, officials said.

Three deaths were reported Monday.

A city official said Tuesday that the death toll from the incident had risen to seven.

The official said a total of 49 people were rushed to various hospitals after the accident.
Of them, 35 were taken to Bhabha Municipal Hospital in Kurla. Two of them were reported dead, while two others were declared dead after being admitted to the medical facility, the official said.

Later, six injured people were shifted from Bhabha Hospital to Sion Hospital where one of them died during treatment.

Of the total 49 injured, three were rushed to the nearby Kohinoor Private Hospital, where one person was declared dead, while the condition of the other two was said to be critical.

Six other injured people were taken to Habib private hospital where one of them was pronounced dead while the others were treated.

Four police officers were also injured in the accident. They were admitted to Seven Hills Municipal Hospital and their condition was stable.
Besides, a 35-year-old man was admitted to the private hospital in Kurla town, the official said.
Police took the bus driver, Sanjay More, into custody after the incident and he was charged with culpable homicide not amounting to murder, authorities said.
His blood samples were also taken to determine if he was under the influence of alcohol, an official said.
In details shared with the media more than five hours after the accident, BEST said that “according to initial information, the driver lost control of the bus.”
Further commenting on the accident, in which several vehicles were dragged or damaged en route, the transport company said the bus “accelerated” after the driver lost control of the wheels.

A BEST official said the bus sustained extensive damage to its front and windshield and some windows were also broken in the accident.
The bus was removed from the scene using a crane and earth mover on Tuesday around 12:30 am and brought to the Kurla depot at 1:15 am.

A team of motor vehicle inspectors examined the bus to determine if there was a mechanical problem. They will submit a report to the police based on their findings, sources at the Regional Transport Office (RTO) said.

The bus was a 12-metre-long electric vehicle manufactured by Hyderabad-based Olectra Greentech and it had been hired by BEST on wet lease, an official said earlier.

No official communication has been received so far from wet leasing company EVEY Trans and Olectra on the accident.

Meanwhile, Mumbai Police closed SG Barve Marg, connecting Kurla railway station, for traffic purposes.
As a result, BEST was operating buses on as many as 10 routes from other nearby locations instead of going to Kurla station, an official of the transport body said.

Barve road is one of the busiest roads connecting Kurla railway station.
Dozens of passengers travel in buses from Kurla bus stop located on Barve road to reach Bandra-Kurla complex and other places.