Mumbai experienced yet another heartbreaking incident when buses operated by the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) service were involved in a catastrophic accident on December 12, 2024. The mishap, which occurred near Kurla, tragically resulted in the deaths of seven people and left over 40 others injured.
Eyewitness accounts describe the chaos of the scene as pedestrians and vehicles were struck after the bus lost control and plowed through traffic like a runaway truck. The aftermath was staggering: shattered glass, car wrecks, and the heart-wrenching sight of those injured being rushed away as sirens blared throughout the busy street.
Among the grievously hurt was Kanis Fatima Ansari, whose loss became the center of both mourning and astonishing outrage when footage emerged showing someone stealing her gold bangles as she lay motionless on the pavement. According to witnesses, the thief, masked with a helmet, appears to tear the jewelry off her wrist without hesitation, embodying the depths of human depravity at such moments.
The video sparked immediate public anger when it was shared widely on social media. Many users expressed their despair, reflecting on the callousness exhibited by the individual. Comments flooded the platforms condemning the act—“Is there no respect left for the deceased?” one user wrote, clearly upset by the brazen theft.
Kanis’s son, Abid, shared his devastation over the incident, stating, “It’s unfortunate people think they can take from the dead. We’re already grieving, and now this.” His family had hoped to recover such belongings from the authorities but were forced to file their own complaint as the footage implicated someone stealing from right under the noses of first responders.
Authorities have since launched investigations to identify the man seen stealing the jewelry. Mumbai Police promised strict action against not just the thief but also any individuals who may have aided him during this act. They urged witnesses to help with details, as many fear being caught up in the crime scene without reporting or engaging—the sentimental power and integrity of the moment significantly diluted by opportunists among the chaos.
Earlier on the same day, the driver of the ill-fated bus, identified as Sanjay More, was arrested and charged. Reports have stated he exhibited poor judgment and negligence; he had been untrained to operate electric buses, having undergone only ten days of training before potentially disastrous state-sponsored driving duties. Evidence also indicated More had hastily exited the bus post-collision, hindering possibilities for immediate aid to passengers.
Eyewitness video captured the very moment he fled the wreckage, reportedly gathering personal belongings—including bags and other items—as he escaped, showing lack of consideration for the victims who could have used his help. His actions are being closely investigated as the public lauds the police’s swift arrest, with continued pleas for safety reforms within the transport sector echoing the grief born by families of victims.
Those injured include not just local commuters but also passersby who were caught off-guard. Survivors recount the terrifying seconds before impact, when the bus seemed to go out of control, colliding with 22 different vehicles along its path.
Frustration has mounted, leading many to question the safety measures and driver training protocols currently enforced within BEST transport systems. While the organization reiterated their commitment to hear community grievances, it remains still to be seen how or if these changes will materialize following yet another tragic loss of lives and resultant public anger.
Victims’ families, devastated by the turn of events, continue to seek justice not only for their loved ones taken too soon but also to prevent such train wrecks from repeating for months and years to come. Many have begun campaigning for awareness around emergency preparedness and response, pushing for city officials to change transit protocols yielding no more fatalities.
Calls to action are not limited to activism. Some have proposed airing public service announcements to educate the general public on duties such as reporting incidents, offering help to the injured, or simply being vigilant at such public places like roads and taxis. Recovery for the families touched by the Kurla accident will likely be studied closely by psychological experts to raise awareness of how communal grief operates under such circumstances.
Among those injured and onboard during this horrific event is twenty-five-year-old Mitali Sharma, who recalls screaming passengers encouraging her to hold on as the bus sped along. "It happened so fast; one moment we were just going home, and the next it was absolute terror. I was lucky to get out with just cuts and bruises, but it’s changing how I’m looking at safety now. I’ll never get on public transport again without being terrified," she explained cautiously.
With still more investigations to follow, Mumbai is grappling with ensuring no more fatalities should arise from negligent driving practices or careless abandonment of victims. The entire city remains glued to updates from regulators and law enforcement, hoping for accountability, systemic reforms, and somber remembrance of those who perished too young.
“The community will have to band together to demand change,” said one local activist, underlining the sentiment echoing throughout social media. “Not for vengeance, but for remembrance, forging pathways to safety each day forward.”
Tragedy like Kurla emphasizes vulnerability faced every day traveling across busy city streets. It’s this collective reflection for the living and silence for those gone which influences the next steps folks plan to take not only on public policy platforms but also personal preferences about transportation families wish to instill with close friends and kin central to the conversation. Systemic change begins at ground level, with goals directed to prevent such horrors from resounding again.
