Mumbai: What Happened in Kurla Bus Accident? Brake Failure, Driver Training Discrepancies?
Mumbai, 11th December 2024: Seven people lost their lives, and 42 others were injured on Monday night when a Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) electric bus collided with pedestrians and vehicles in Kurla. The incident took place around 9:30 p.m. on S G Barve Marg, involving an Olectra-manufactured electric bus.
Kurla Bus Crash: Investigation Clears Brake Failure as Cause
Following an inspection, the Wadala Regional Transport Office (RTO) ruled out brake failure as the cause of the crash. Bharat Jadhav, the motor vehicle inspector heading the investigation, confirmed that the bus’s brakes and other essential systems, such as headlights, were found to be in good working order.
“The RTO team’s inspection confirmed that the bus’s brakes were functioning properly,” an unnamed RTO official shared. Additional details from Olectra and BEST have been requested to finalize the report.
The bus driver, Sanjay More, aged 54, was arrested shortly after the crash. Initial findings suggest that his lack of experience with electric buses, specifically automatic transmission models, may have played a role in the accident. Unlike manual buses, which use a clutch and gear system, the 12-meter electric bus operates on an automatic transmission, which can affect a driver’s control over acceleration and braking.
“If a driver is not accustomed to driving an automatic bus, it can impact their ability to judge acceleration and braking correctly,” explained an RTO official.
Kurla Bus Collision: CCTV Footage Reveals Accident Details
The incident was captured by the bus’s CCTV cameras, which showed the crash occurred within 52 to 55 seconds. After striking the first vehicle, the bus traveled between 400 and 450 meters before crashing into the compound wall of a housing society. Authorities suspect the driver panicked after the initial impact and unintentionally accelerated instead of applying the brakes.
Driver Training Discrepancies in Kurla Accident
Sanjay More had been operating smaller Tempo Traveller buses for BEST since 2020. He started driving electric buses on December 1, 2024, after being hired by a Pune-based agency. BEST’s general manager, Anil Diggikar, stated that More received three days of induction training. However, More’s son, Deep More, claimed his father underwent nine to ten days of training.
A retired RTO official noted the challenges of driving automatic electric buses compared to traditional manual buses. “Electric buses with automatic transmission do not have air-assisted braking systems, and it takes time to adjust. This seems to be a case of human error due to lack of familiarity,” the official explained.
Maharashtra’s Transport Commissioner Vivek Bhimanwar confirmed that the RTO conducted the inspection following Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). “Our team has thoroughly inspected the bus according to the established SOP,” he stated. A final report from Olectra’s engineers and the RTO will be submitted to Mumbai police to conclude the investigation.
