Mumbai Accident: 4 BEST Buses Collide Near Azad Nagar Metro Station In Andheri; 1 Dead - VIDEO

Mumbai: A routine workday turned tragic for Virar resident Shekhar Baburao Rawate, a BEST bus conductor, who was killed in a chain collision involving four buses near Amboli Naka in Andheri West on Thursday afternoon.

The accident took place around 1.15pm on SV Road between Amboli Naka and Rajkumar bus stop after a fallen tree caused heavy traffic congestion in the area. According to transport officials, three Mateshwari-operated BEST buses – Route 266/32 (Bus No. 7783), Route 242/32 (Bus No. 7774) and Route 249/33 (Bus No. 7778) – were stationary in a queue because of the blockage.

Officials said a PMI-operated BEST wet lease bus on Route 251, bearing registration number MH-01-FE-0620 (Bus No. 4115), approached from behind and rammed into the halted buses.

During the impact, Rawate, who was attached to Bus No. 7783, got trapped between Bus No. 7778 and the speeding bus while moving behind the parked vehicles. He sustained severe injuries in the collision and was rushed to Cooper Hospital by the conductor of the PMI-operated bus. Doctors declared him dead before treatment at around 1.35 pm.

According to DN Nagar police, no FIR had been registered till late Thursday evening. Senior Police Inspector Rajendra Machidar said the accident occurred after a fourth bus lost control and rammed into three stationary buses lined up due to a fallen tree.

During the chaos, conductor Shekhar Rawate reportedly went between buses to assess the situation when one of the buses reversed, crushing him between two vehicles. Police said a negligence case would be registered against the driver of the bus involved.

Rawate, 52, had left home on Thursday morning like any other day. Before leaving, he had a brief conversation with his younger son about buying groceries later in the evening. Hours later, the family received the devastating news of his death.

His elder son, Prathamesh Rawate, who works with Mahindra Automobile, said the family is still struggling to process the sudden loss. “He left home normally for work. We were expecting him to return in the evening like every day,” a family member said.

Neighbours and relatives described Rawate as a softspoken and hardworking man who had spent years serving in public transport. Before joining the current BEST wet lease service, he had also worked with the Vasai-Virar city bus service.

Family members said he remained dedicated to his work despite long hours and difficult travel conditions. News of his death spread quickly across the Virar neighbourhood, with relatives and friends gathering at the family residence to offer support.

The police and transport authorities have launched an investigation into the incident. Preliminary findings suggest the collision occurred amid poor traffic movement caused by the fallen tree. The accident has once again raised concerns over road safety, emergency traffic management and the working conditions of public transport staff during monsoon-related disruptions in Mumbai.

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