Mumbai’s Buses on a killing spree, claim 32 lives in 2013

A big red blot on Mumbai’s big red bus. Over the last couple of years, the number of fatal accidents involving the city’s public buses has shot up.

And this came just when the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport Undertaking’s (BEST) record showed some improvement — two years ago, it had recorded the third lowest year of fatal accidents in the undertaking’s history.

In  2013, between January and December, there were 29 fatal accidents in the city in which 32 people lost their lives. The month of August saw as many as five ‘deadly accidents’ while October had a clean record with not a single fatal mishap.

The same period witnessed 123 serious accidents, resulting in 147 Mumbaikars sustaining serious injuries and another 56 who suffered minor injuries.

In 2012-13, BEST recorded 30 fatal accidents. In 2011-12, it reported the third-lowest number of fatalities at 26 accidents. A year earlier, the transport undertaking’s buses saw 49 fatal mishaps.

Taking note of the rising number of accidents, the undertaking has turned the heat on its drivers. Earlier, those involved in fatal accidents were suspended from service, now they are dismissed.

Besides, drivers are made to undergo a seven-day refresher’s course to help mitigate the number of mishaps.

Spokesperson of BEST AS Tamboli said that those drivers with zero accident records are rewarded by BEST. “This is done so that it motivates driving staff to drive responsibly, carefully and in a safe manner,” said Tamboli.