Tragedy struck Mumbai’s bustling Kurla area last night when a BEST bus lost control on the crowded SG Barve Marg, killing six people and injuring 43 others. Among the deceased was 19-year-old Afrin Shah, who was returning home after her first day at work.
Afrin, a bright young woman who had just started her professional journey, couldn’t find an auto-rickshaw and had called her father, Abdul Salim, for advice. He suggested she walk to Kurla station, unaware of the impending disaster. Moments later, Mr. Salim received a devastating call asking him to rush to a hospital, where he found his daughter’s lifeless body.
The accident claimed the lives of five others, including 55-year-old nurse Kannis Ansari, who was on her way to the hospital for her night shift. Other victims have been identified as Anam Sheikh, Shivam Kashyap, Vijay Gaikwad, and Faruq Chaudhari.
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The accident occurred on SG Barve Marg, a vital artery connecting to Kurla station. The bus, operated by the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST), lost control, careening into pedestrians and vehicles before crashing into a residential society.
Initial investigations indicate that the driver, Sanjay More, may have lost control of the bus due to a mechanical fault, possibly brake failure. More has been taken into custody and faces charges, including culpable homicide not amounting to murder. Experts are inspecting the vehicle to confirm the cause of the accident.
The timing of the crash, during peak evening hours when many were heading home after a long day, compounded the casualties. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed his condolences and announced an ex-gratia payment of ₹5 lakh for the families of the deceased. Additionally, the state will cover the medical expenses for the injured.
“This incident is heartbreaking. We will ensure that those responsible are held accountable and that such tragedies do not recur,” Mr. Fadnavis said in a statement. The Kurla tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the risks faced by Mumbai’s commuters.
For Afrin Shah’s family, the joy of her first job has turned into an unbearable loss. The young woman’s untimely death has left her family and community in deep shock, highlighting the fragility of life in the fast-paced Maximum City.
As the city mourns the loss of six lives, investigations continue to uncover the precise cause of the accident, raising questions about the safety protocols for public transport vehicles in India’s financial capital.
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