Mumbai’s public transport system is under intense fire today after a tragic accident at Bhandup West. As of Tuesday, December 30, 2025, the death toll has officially reached four, with nine others fighting for their lives in hospitals across the city.
The thing is, this wasn’t just a random mechanical failure. Or nothing. Let’s be real, the accident happened on a notoriously congested stretch of Station Road where people are forced onto the tarmac because of sidewalk encroachments. Those too. At 10:03 PM on Monday, a BEST bus—part of the controversial wet-lease fleet—mowed down pedestrians while reversing.
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The Incident: High Chaos at Peak Rush
Witnesses describe a scene of pure horror. The bus, an Olectra midi bus (Route A-606), reportedly lost control while trying to pull a tight U-turn or reverse in the narrow lanes.
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The Toll: Four dead, including three women and one man.
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The Victims: Identified as Pranita Sandip Rasam (35), an actress; Mansi Meghshyam Gurav (49), a nurse at Sion Hospital; Varsha Sawant (25); and Prashant Shinde (53).
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The Driver: 52-year-old Santosh Ramesh Sawant is currently in police custody.
Political Heat & The “Wet-Lease” Model
This tragedy has reignited a massive debate over how Mumbai’s buses are run.
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The Compensation: Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has announced ₹5 lakh for the families of the deceased and directed hospitals to provide free treatment to the nine injured.
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The Criticism: Mumbai Congress President Varsha Gaikwad slammed the government, calling the “wet-leasing model” a disaster that prioritizes contractor friends over passenger safety. She pointed out that these midi buses were introduced despite “inadequate turning radius” on routes like Bhandup.
The Safety Question
And here’s the kicker: earlier this year, smaller mini-buses were withdrawn from these routes, leaving only these larger “midi” buses to navigate streets they aren’t built for. It’s an ongoing situation where the transport experts are warning that without dedicated pedestrian infrastructure and better driver training for these specific vehicles, Bhandup won’t be the last tragedy.
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