Mumbai: CCTV Footage Shows BEST Bus Driver Retrieving Backpacks Before Fleeing After Fatal Kurla Accident

Mumbai, 12th December 2024: CCTV footage from inside the BEST bus involved in the deadly accident in Mumbai’s Kurla area reveals driver Sanjay More retrieving backpacks from the cabin before escaping through a shattered window following the crash.

Multiple clips of the footage circulated widely on social media, showing passengers in distress as the electric vehicle (EV) veered out of control, striking pedestrians and vehicles in Kurla West on Monday night. The bus, initially travelling at a steady pace, began to swerve uncontrollably. Passengers clung to poles and handles, while others peered out the windows to understand the cause of the chaos ahead.

Once the bus finally stopped, many passengers ignored the exit door and jumped through the broken windows. Moments later, driver Sanjay More entered the cabin, grabbed two backpacks, and leapt out of a shattered window on the left side. Meanwhile, the bus conductor exited through the rear door.

The incident, which occurred around 9:30 pm along SG Barve Marg in Kurla, resulted in the deaths of seven people and left 42 others injured.

Following the crash, the police arrested Sanjay More, charging him with culpable homicide not amounting to murder. He was remanded to police custody until December 21.

The Regional Transport Office (RTO) later shared an initial report with the police, confirming there was no technical fault with the bus.

More informed the police on Wednesday that he had only received three training sessions in the e-bus, provided by the wet lease contractor managing the fleet. This contradicts BEST’s internal Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), which mandates a six-week refresher course for drivers transitioning from manual to e-buses.

In response, senior officials from BEST and the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) held a meeting with private operators to discuss improving driver training and enhancing safety protocols.

BEST announced that breathalyzer tests for drivers would now be mandatory following the Kurla tragedy. The meeting also urged private operators to share details on driver training, hiring processes, and safety infrastructure.

Additionally, BEST has been tasked with conducting an internal investigation into the incident and submitting a report to the state government.