3 fatal mishaps in 1 mth by buses on lease with BEST

In the third fatal mishap involving a BEST bus this month, an elderly woman died after she was hit by a BEST bus while crossing a road in Kurla (W) on Thursday. On Monday, a 22-year-old suffered serious injuries after being hit by another BEST bus at Chunabhatti.

- Somit Sen & S Ahmed Ali

"All recent mishaps involve buses on wet lease," said Ravi Raja, former BMC opposition leader and former BEST panel member. "There is urgent need to discipline drivers of wet lease buses." The 65-year-old woman was hit by the front left tyre of the bus on route 310 and was injured on the legs and waist. She died in hospital.

The salesman, Chembur resident Atish Ahire, has been admitted to Sion hospital with serious injuries to the back, ribs, face and knees after being thrown to the ground when the "speeding" BEST bus hit his bike at Chunabhatti, leaving the bike completely mangled. His father lodged an FIR of rash and negligent driving against the driver, Akshay Thokde, at Nehru Nagar police station. The driver was arrested and released on bail.