A delayed local train saved a Mumbai commuter from a tragic accident late Monday night, when a BEST bus rammed into passengers waiting at a bus stop outside Bhandup railway station, killing at least four people and injuring nine others.

Santosh Shelar, a regular commuter on the 606 bus route from Bhandup station to Narth Nagar Ayush, told reporters that he usually reaches the station between 9.45 pm and 9.50 pm. On Tuesday, however, his train was delayed, and he arrived around 10.05 pm — minutes after the crash had occurred. “I am shocked by what I saw there,” Shelar said. He noted that until recently, a mini bus operated on the route, which had been replaced with a new air-conditioned bus.

How the Accident Happened

According to preliminary reports, the accident took place around 10.05 pm when a Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport Undertaking (BEST) bus reversed into a queue of passengers standing outside the station. The driver, identified as 52-year-old Santosh Ramesh Sawant, was reportedly attempting to make a U-turn to enter the adjacent bus depot but accidentally pressed the accelerator instead of the brake, causing the bus to ram into waiting commuters.

Immediate Response

Local shop owners near the bus stop were among the first to respond. Dinesh Jain, who owns a shop opposite the bus stop, said, “We all immediately rushed to help, pulled out some of the injured, and gave them water.” Another eyewitness, Bholanath Gupta, who runs a farsan shop next to the bus depot, recalled hearing a huge crash and seeing people lying injured on the road.

Several witnesses pointed to congestion near the station as a contributing factor. Many commuters were forced to stand on the road because hawkers had encroached on the footpath. An eyewitness told PTI that buses struggle to take a U-turn in the area due to these obstructions. A Bhandup police officer confirmed that the lane outside the railway station is among the most congested in the suburb, noting that while there is a skywalk for pedestrians, few use it because the bus and auto stands are located directly beneath it.

Driver Detained, Investigation Underway

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 7) Hemraj Rajput confirmed that the driver has been taken into custody. The bus involved, a 9-metre air-conditioned Olectra vehicle operating on a wet-lease arrangement on the 606 Ring Road route, is being examined to rule out any mechanical or technical faults.

Official Condolences and Relief

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the accident. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis described the incident as “extremely unfortunate” and announced an ex-gratia payment of ₹5 lakh to the families of the deceased.

The incident underscores long-standing concerns about congestion, encroachment, and inadequate commuter infrastructure outside railway stations in Mumbai, which can exacerbate the consequences of even minor driver errors. In this case, a delayed train inadvertently spared a commuter from the tragedy that claimed multiple lives.