The bus driver is currently in police custody as authorities investigate the incident. Emergency services, including ambulances, the Mumbai Fire Brigade, and BEST officials, rushed to the site. The injured were immediately shifted to Rajawadi Hospital and MT Agrawal Hospital, where doctors confirmed four fatalities. Officials have warned that the death toll could rise, as several of the injured remain in critical condition.

Eyewitnesses described chaotic scenes at the site. Pharmacist Saimini Mudaliar said she was waiting at a nearby bus stop when she heard a loud noise, akin to an explosion. “The next moment, I saw people being hit by the bus. Some were thrown into the air and then fell on the road. Several were trapped under the bus,” she said. Locals rushed to lift the bus and rescue the victims. Mudaliar added that the bus also rammed into an electric pole, causing it to collapse.

The accident has been partly attributed to footpath encroachments by hawkers, which forced pedestrians onto the road. “The area is crowded throughout the day. With vegetables sold at cheaper rates here, the crowd increases further, complicating traffic,” Mudaliar said, noting that buses often struggle to maneuver, especially while taking U-turns.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Hemraj Singh Rajput confirmed that an FIR is being prepared against the driver. He added that a mechanical and technical inspection of the bus will determine the exact cause of the accident. The bus was a midi-bus from Olectra Greentech, introduced on a ‘wet lease’ due to a shortage in BEST’s fleet. Preliminary reports indicate that a BEST driver was operating the vehicle at the time.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed grief over the tragedy and announced an ex gratia of ₹5 lakh for the families of the deceased. He described the incident as “extremely tragic” and wished a speedy recovery to those injured.

BEST operates Mumbai’s primary public bus service with a fleet of approximately 2,700 to 3,200 buses, including ordinary, AC, and electric vehicles. Midi-buses were recently introduced on certain routes due to a shortage of regular buses, despite operational challenges in densely populated areas.