08 June,2026 06:18 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
A man died and six others were injured in the accident. Pic/Ashish Raje
Mumbai Congress chief Varsha Gaikwad has criticised the wet-lease system of Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) bus operations following a fatal accident in central Mumbai's Dadar.
A man died and six others were injured in the accident.
In a post on X, Gaikwad expressed concern over repeated accidents involving BEST buses and questioned the safety standards of contract-operated services in the city.
Reacting to the incident, Gaikwad said the latest accident was part of a disturbing pattern of similar cases reported from different parts of Mumbai.
"Yet another young life lost today as a BEST bus lost control in Dadar," she wrote.
She also referred to earlier incidents in Kurla and Bhandup, saying they highlighted serious safety concerns linked to the current operational model.
Gaikwad criticised the wet-lease arrangement under which private operators supply buses and drivers to the BEST undertaking.
She alleged that such arrangements, combined with inadequate driver training, have increased risks for passengers and pedestrians.
According to her, repeated accidents suggest systemic failures that need urgent attention.
The Congress leader reiterated her party's demand to end the wet-lease model altogether.
"We have been repeatedly asking that the wet-lease system be scrapped. When will the government listen?" she said in her post.
She argued that outsourcing critical public transport services has compromised safety standards.
According to officials, a BEST electric bus reportedly lost control and collided with five vehicles near Kotwal Garden in Dadar West on Monday morning, leaving one person dead and several others injured.
The police said that the accident took place at around 09:30 hrs when the BEST bus on Route 463/31 reportedly lost control and struck multiple vehicles from behind before coming to a halt.
The vehicles involved in the crash include an Activa scooter, an electric bike, a taxi, a Maruti Baleno car, and an electric car.
Police said the bus driver has been taken into custody. The damaged vehicles were later removed from the road, restoring traffic movement in the area.
An FIR has been registered at Shivaji Park Police Station against the BEST bus driver under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Motor Vehicles Act.
The case has been registered under sections 281, 125, 125(a), 125(b), and 106 BNS read with Section 184 of the MV Act.
The civic officials said that a total of six people were injured in the incident.
One victim, identified as Niayz Ahemed (28), an electric scooter rider, was declared brought dead at the hospital.
Others injured include:
- Amit Mhatre (41), pedestrian - stable condition
- Vrishabh Gupta (22), bike rider - critical condition
- Mahesh Doiphode (50), BEST inspector - stable condition
- Vikas Padare (42), bus driver - stable condition
- Rajendra Pelekar (57), bus conductor - stable condition
- Satish Waghamare (48), BEST inspector - stable condition
All injured persons were shifted to Sion Hospital for treatment, officials said.
