SEVEN KILLED, 40 INJURED IN DEADLY BUS ACCIDENT IN CURLA

Mumbai, Maharashtra: A speeding BEST bus fatally knocked down seven persons and injured more than 40 in a devastating accident in Kurla on Sunday.

Eyewitnesses claim the bus was traveling at high speeds when it hit an auto-rickshaw and swerved towards pedestrians, hitting several in the process. One of those affected is Aman Khan, who escaped with minor injuries after being thrown to the ground.

"I saw the bus coming towards me, it had already hit an auto-rickshaw and swerved towards me," said Khan, 24, a resident of Kapadia Nagar, while recounting his ordeal at Bhabha hospital in Kurla West. "Before I could react, the bus hit me and I was thrown to the ground. Luckily, I rolled over and saved myself."

Another victim, Basheera Shaikh, 58, sustained injuries to the back of her head after the bus hit her auto on its way to get sonography and CT scan. Five people were in the auto at the time.

"I was lying on the road for some time, and later someone brought us here," said Shaikh. "One of my gold earrings went missing in the melee."

Sukharam Paswan, a sweet potato vendor who narrowly escaped the bus, described his near-death experience as miraculous. "If I had been two seconds late in getting out of the way, I wouldn’t have been alive today. The bus hit my sweet potato stall and then continued on its way," he said.

Local shop owners reported seeing the incident unfold before their eyes. "I was about to close my shop when this happened. The bus hit a sweet potato stall and then completely crushed a young woman just after hitting the stall," said another shop owner, who wished anonymity.

The incident has raised concerns among residents and parents whose children attend the municipal school near the site of the accident. "These bus drivers drive at high speed even when school children are leaving or going to school. At least the drivers should understand that the lives of schoolchildren are at risk," said Yasmin Ansari, a Kurla resident.

The victims have since been taken to hospital for treatment. The authorities have launched an investigation into the accident and are demanding strict action against those responsible.