Double-decker topples,biker dead

Police have booked the driver of the double-decker,Jalinder Dattatray Bhosale,for rash for driving. After identifying the biker,police informed his family in Borivali.

According to eyewitnesses,the bus on route number 310 between Bandra station and Bandra-Kurla Complex toppled at Kala Nagar junction while taking a sharp turn at around 4.15 pm.

“Prima- facie it’s a case of rash driving. The driver has been booked and will be taken into custody soon,” said Satyanarayan Choudhary,Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone VIII). Around 29 passengers in the bus were reported to be injured,of whom 13 were admitted to Babha Hospital.

“Patients were brought in with injuries,mostly fractures. Of the 13 admitted,one is a child,” said Seema Malik,Chief Medical Superintendent,Babha Hospital.

“The driver tried taking a sharp turn and lost control. Passengers in the bus were thrown in all directions before the bus toppled. I am still in a state of shock,” said a 23-year-old passenger,who is under treatment at Babha Hospital.

Reacting to the incident,S M Karlekar,Assistant General Manager,BEST,said,“It was probably a case of rash driving. The bus was not damaged much. Police are likely to take the bus for a while for inspection. BEST will conduct a departmental inquiry into the incident and if we find that the driver was negligent in any way,we will take action against him.”

Another BEST committee member,Ravi Raja,said,“It is a shocking incident. This means commuters of BEST buses are not safe. A double decker bus should never topple. The fact that it toppled while taking a turn means the driver must have been speeding. BEST needs to improve safety of passengers.”