As per a preliminary report furnished by the BEST, the accident took place around 1.45 am. The two buses, identified as Bus No. 1453 and Bus No. 1862, were heading from Poisar to Ghatkopar for depot transfer.
Two persons died and another was injured after two Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) buses collided and then rammed an auto-rickshaw near Goregaon Check Naka Bridge on the Western Express Highway on Saturday night.
The two victims, both passengers in the auto-rickshaw, have been identified as Johny Sankharam (42) and Sujata Panchaki (38). The driver of the auto-rickshaw sustained minor injuries.
As per a preliminary report furnished by the BEST, the accident took place around 1.45 am. The two buses, identified as Bus No. 1453 and Bus No. 1862, were heading from Poisar to Ghatkopar for depot transfer.
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When the buses reached near the spot, the driver of the first bus applied brakes. The second bus followed suit and jammed its brakes as well. However, owing to the heavy rain, the roads were slippery and the second bus skidded and dashed into an auto-rickshaw.
The auto-rickshaw was ferrying two passengers who were seriously injured in the incident. They were first taken to Trauma Care Hospital where Johny Santharam (42) was pronounced dead before admission. Meanwhile, Sujata Panchaki (38) was transferred to Andheri’s Kokilaben Hospital. A couple of hours later Panchaki was also declared dead.
Speaking to The Indian Express, BEST officials confirmed that the bus drivers had not been injured and that the buses were not ferrying any passengers when the incident unfolded. “The accident was caused because of the slippery roads. Further investigation is underway”, said a BEST official.
An officer from Goregaon police station said they have registered an FIR and have arrested one of the BEST bus drivers.
First published on: 02-07-2023 at 21:49 IST
