The latest video that has appeared shows the liquor purchase being made by a BEST bus driver, and this incident too has brought to focus the safety mechanisms and who is accountable in the public transport set up of the city.This incident has been caught by cameras in the Versova area of Andheri West days after the bus accident in Kurla, which had claimed the lives of seven people.
A video uploaded to X by a user named Raj Maji, showing the BEST bus driver of route A-259 stopping the vehicle on a liquor shop, holding his passengers inside while he personally ventures inside the shop to have his alcoholic beverages, surfaced as the latest scandal associated with the BEST transport outfit. Public anger erupted amidst all, asking how could the concerned authorities be blissfully unaware of such practice in a transport service institution like BEST.
𝕄𝕌𝕄𝔹𝔸𝕀 | A shocking video has surfaced, showing a BEST bus driver buying liquor from a shop in Andheri West and bringing it onto the bus. The incident has raised serious concerns about the safety of passengers and the conduct of BEST drivers. The video shows the driver… pic.twitter.com/ujyAzmQ91w
— ℝ𝕒𝕛 𝕄𝕒𝕛𝕚 (@Rajmajiofficial) December 11, 2024
Following the viral video, MNS leader Sandesh Desai commented on the incident. He said that the action of the bus driver led to the deadly crash in Kurla. Desai said that strict action should be taken against the driver and stringent measures should be enforced in order to prevent such behavior in the future. He raised concerns about the safety of passengers and the professionalism of those entrusted with public transport duties.
This video comes two days after a bus crash in Kurla, where a BEST bus driven by 54-year-old Sanjay More ran over the crowded market, killing seven people and injuring several more. Witnesses of the incident have speculated that the driver might have been drunk during the time of the mishap, which has been raising concerns about the behaviour of the driver.
The authorities are conducting a thorough investigation on the Kurla case, with the possible reasons being a failure of brakes or human error. The driver of that ill-fated bus, Sanjay More, has been arrested and charged with causing culpable homicide not amounting to murder. More was produced in court on Tuesday and sent to police custody till December 21 while further investigations continue.
These incidents have brought to question the safety and accountability mechanism in the public transport systems of Mumbai and a dire need for stronger checks on the public transport systems that could help prevent future calamities.
