Mumbai: 9 people were injured and some vehicles were damaged after a drunk man grabbed the steering wheel of a Best bus in Mumbai’s Lalbaugh. The incident reportedly happened following an argument with the bus driver. Those injured in the incident were mostly pedestrians, said a report in the Hindustan Times.
Bus hit other cars, bikes on road
Apart from hitting and injuring the pedestrians on the road, the bus also hit other cars and 2-wheelers. The driver finally managed to regain control over the vehicle, and push aside the drunk passenger. At least 3 vehicles, including 2 bikes and a car were damaged in the incident.
The bus involved in the incident was an electric bus of Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST), which is the transport wing of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the civic body of Mumbai. The bus plying on route number 66 was going from Ballard Pier in south Mumbai to Rani Laxmibai Chowk in Sion.
Reports said that the passenger who allegedly led to the bus accident was drunk and he got into an argument with the bus driver. After the verbal duel escalated, the inebriated man allegedly grabbed the steering wheel of the vehicle. This happened as the bus was moving towards Ganesh Talkies near Lalbaugh, said a police personnel from the Kalachowki police station.
The injured people have all been moved to different hospitals across Mumbai. The drunk passenger has been arrested and police are investigating the case.
Recent bus accidents in Mumbai
The frequency of bus accidents in Mumbai has increased over time. On July 17, 5 people died and 46 were left injured after a private bus crashed into a tractor and fell into a ditch. The accident happened on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway and there were 54 passengers in the vehicle. The CM had announced Rs 5 lakh compensation for the next of kin of those killed and free treatment for those injured in the mishap.
In another incident reported in August, a middle aged woman was killed and 8 people were injured after a bus hit an SUV and a 2-wheeler. The bus entered the wrong lane and hit the SUV head on, before hitting a motorcycle-borne person. It finally stopped after hitting a pole.
