Mumbai: A retired railway staffer, Vijay Gaikwad, 70, had stepped out of his home to visit a nearby photocopy shop when a BEST bus knocked him down, claiming his life. The tragic bus accident at Kurla resulted in the loss of seven lives and left 42 others injured.
Gaikwad, a resident of Brahmanwadi, had recently undergone knee replacement surgery. According to witnesses, he was the first to be struck by the bus, which then careened into other pedestrians, vehicles, and street vendors. He succumbed to his injuries during treatment at Bhabha Hospital.
"He told us he was going to get a photocopy and would be back soon," said his grieving wife, Pramila. The family received news of his hospitalization through a call from a stranger. Gaikwad is survived by his wife, son Tushar, and daughter Darshana.
Other victims included 22-year-old Afrin Shah, who had just started her first job that day. Returning home on foot after failing to find an auto rickshaw, Shah was killed instantly. Her father, Abdul Salim, who had advised her to walk to Kurla station, received a devastating call about her death shortly after.
Kannis Ansari, a nurse on her way to a night shift, was another fatality. Ansari was declared dead upon arrival at the hospital. Eyewitnesses described the horrifying scene as the bus barreled through the crowded street on Monday late evening. "The bus hit Gaikwad first before it struck others," said a shopkeeper who helped rush victims to the hospital.
The state government will provide Rs 5 lakh, while BEST will provide Rs 2 lakh, totaling Rs 7 lakh in assistance to the families of the deceased. Additionally, those seriously injured will receive Rs 1 lakh, and those with minor injuries will receive Rs 50,000 in aid.
