21 July,2026 08:30 AM IST | Mumbai | Abhitash Singh
Sumangal Maity at Shatabdi Hospital. Pic/Abhitash Singh
Instead of heading home to sleep after his night shift, 42-year-old labourer Sumangal Maity ended up hospitalised with a shoulder injury. He is among 10 people injured after BEST Bus No. 8092, operated by M/s Mateshwari Urban Transport Solutions Pvt Ltd on Route 501 between Kurla East and Airoli, crashed into a bridge barricade on the Mankhurd flyover around 8.30 am on July 20, killing a 62-year-old pedestrian.
Mumbai Deputy Mayor Sanjay Ghadi (second from left, in glasses) and BEST Chairperson Trushna Vishwasrao (orange saree) visit injured passengers admitted in the hospital. Pic/By Special Arrangement
The bus driver claimed the crash occurred due to sudden brake failure near Mankhurd railway station. Eight injured passengers were taken to Shatabdi Hospital, while the driver and conductor were moved to Rajawadi Hospital. The deceased body was also shifted to Rajawadi Hospital for post-mortem.
Deceased
Bhaskar Kagde, 62, pedestrian
Injured
Sumangal Maity, 42, passenger
Ganesh Patel, 24, passenger
Lata Waghela, 42, passenger
Rajesh Varuganiye, 35, passenger
Ankita Jadhav, 22, passenger
Ranjana Ghorpade, 53, passenger
Shankar Sathe, 47, passenger
Sanket Nakti, 25, passenger
Banwarilal Sharma, 49, driver
Vaibhav Waghmare, 41, conductor
The damaged BEST bus being towed away by the authorities. Pic/X/@ipramodsharma
Maity said his biggest concern is his family's survival. "My three-and-a-half-year-old son is at home in PNG Colony, Mankhurd, with a neighbour. I asked the hospital staff who would take care of my family if I am bedridden for 25 to 30 days. They said my food would be taken care of, but my family is my responsibility. I have not heard anything about compensation yet." His wife alleged that Route 501 buses are routinely overcrowded because of inadequate frequency.
Dr Shubhangi Ghodke, chief medical officer, Shatabdi Hospital
"One patient was admitted to the ENT department, while the others were admitted to orthopaedic wards. One patient was referred to Sion Hospital for specialised treatment. The injured passenger, Ganesh Patel, suffered a nasal bone fracture. Doctors performed fracture reduction"
In a statement, BEST said its preliminary inquiry found no technical defect in the bus. It added that no mechanical or technical complaints had been reported for the vehicle since July 19. The undertaking said the driver had completed prescribed BEST training and had been employed with Mateshwari Urban Transport Solutions Pvt Ltd for the past two years. BEST said it has issued a notice to the contractor, is extending assistance to the deceased's family and the injured, and is cooperating with the police investigation. Police are probing the exact cause of the crash.
Sumangal Maity
"I was about to get down at the Mankhurd railway station bus stop when the bus hit the divider. Many passengers fell inside. I couldn't understand what had happened. I fell badly and injured my shoulder. As mobile phones are not allowed at my workplace, I borrowed a stranger's phone to inform my wife. Police took me to the hospital, and my wife later joined me. Doctors advised surgery and asked me to wear a shoulder belt. I asked who would pay for it. Initially, they said they would provide it, but later my wife was asked to buy one. A generous woman gave her '1000 to purchase the shoulder belt".
Bus driver Banwarilal Sharma suffered a head injury after striking a metal box and rod above the driver's seat. Doctors at Rajawadi Hospital said he is conscious, stable, able to recognise people, and breathing normally. CT scan reports are awaited. Conductor Vaibhav Waghmare sustained abdominal bruises after being thrown forward when the bus came to a sudden halt. X-rays showed no major bone or muscle injury, though further scan reports are awaited. Doctors said he is stable but remains in shock and may require counselling.
(Inputs by Ritika Gondhalekar)
