CCTV footage of the electric BEST bus involved in the fatal Kurla accident showed driver Sanjay More fleeing the scene with two backpacks. The viral clips, widely circulated on social media on Wednesday, show him retrieving the bags from the cabin and escaping through a shattered window.
The incident took place on Monday night when the out-of-control electric vehicle ploughed through pedestrians and vehicles on the busy SG Barve Marg in Kurla (West). The crash claimed seven lives and injured 42 people, including four policemen on duty. The rampage also damaged 22 vehicles before the bus came to a halt.
Multiple clips, ranging from 50 seconds to over a minute, depict the chaos inside the bus. Passengers are seen panicking, with some clinging to poles and handles while others stand to comprehend the street commotion. Following the abrupt halt, several passengers escaped through shattered windows.
One clip shows More leaving the cabin with two black backpacks before jumping out of a broken window on the left side of the bus. The conductor exited through the rear door.
Also Read:Mumbai BEST bus accident: 7 dead, several injured after electric bus rams into pedestrians, vehicles
More, who had only undergone a 10-day training for electric vehicles, has since been arrested on charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder. He is currently in police custody until December 21.
BEST and MSRTC to prioritise driver training
In response to the tragedy, senior officials from the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) and the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) met with private bus operators on Wednesday to address safety concerns. BEST operates electric buses under a wet lease model, where contractors provide drivers and maintain vehicles.
Key measures discussed included mandatory breathalyser tests for drivers and enhanced training protocols. Private operators were instructed to submit details of their driver training modules, appointment processes, and infrastructure.
Additionally, BEST officials met with the Maharashtra transport commissioner, who ordered an internal investigation into the accident. The findings will be forwarded to the state government.