Kurla Bus Crash Highlights Training Gaps and Safety Concerns

A fatal accident involving a BEST electric bus in Mumbai raises questions about driver training, operational oversight, and the wet-lease system.

Seven people were killed and 42 injured when a BEST electric bus crashed into pedestrians and vehicles in Kurla, Mumbai, on Monday evening.
Investigations revealed that the driver, Sanjay More, had only three days of training on the 12-meter electric bus, despite transitioning from smaller, manual-transmission buses.
Authorities confirmed that the bus exhibited no mechanical faults, suggesting human error and inadequate training as likely causes of the crash.
The incident has reignited political debate over the BEST's wet-lease system, with opposition parties criticizing the practice for compromising safety by employing undertrained drivers.
The Maharashtra government increased compensation for victims' families to ₹7 lakh each and announced a review of driver training protocols and safety measures.