BEST bus driver injured in Mulund West head-on collision, minor fire breaks out
Synopsis
A BEST bus on Route 496 slammed into a private travel bus on a Metro-construction-narrowed LBS Marg in Mulund West at dawn on Sunday, injuring its driver and igniting a bonnet fire that the conductor extinguished with an onboard fire extinguisher. The same morning, a separate high-speed car crash on the Mumbai Coastal Road killed three people — making it a particularly grim Sunday on Mumbai's roads.
Key Takeaways
A BEST Route 496 bus collided head-on with a private travel bus in Mulund West at around 5.50 am on 20 September 2026 .
Driver Sandeep Namdev Karande , 40 , sustained abdominal and right-leg injuries and was admitted to Agarwal Hospital, Mulund in stable, conscious condition.
A minor fire broke out in the bus bonnet after impact; the conductor doused it using the onboard fire extinguisher.
Ongoing Metro construction on LBS Marg had restricted traffic to a single lane, a factor at the crash site.
Separately, three people were killed in a high-speed car crash near Lotus Jetty on the Mumbai Coastal Road at around 5.20 am the same morning.
A BEST bus on Route 496 collided head-on with a private travel bus in Mulund West, Mumbai, at around 5.50 am on Sunday, 20 September 2026, leaving its driver injured and sparking a minor fire in the vehicle. The crash occurred on LBS Marg, where ongoing Metro construction work had narrowed traffic movement to a single lane.
How the Collision Unfolded
The BEST bus was travelling from SEEPZ toward Teen Hath Naka in Thane when it met an oncoming private travel bus head-on in the single-lane stretch. The force of the impact drove the steering wheel into the abdomen of the driver, Sandeep Namdev Karande, 40, who also sustained injuries to his right leg and suffered heavy bleeding at the scene.
Minor Fire and Quick Response by Conductor
Moments after the collision, a minor fire broke out in the bonnet of the BEST bus, creating an additional emergency at the spot. The bus conductor acted swiftly, deploying the onboard fire extinguisher to douse the flames before they could spread. The same conductor then arranged immediate medical assistance for the injured driver.
Driver's Condition and Treatment
Karande was rushed to Agarwal Hospital in Mulund, where authorities said he was conscious and in a stable condition after admission. He was being treated for abdominal and leg injuries sustained in the crash. The prompt response by the conductor is credited with preventing further harm both from the fire and from any delay in medical care.
Metro Construction Work Under Scrutiny
The restricted single-lane traffic on LBS Marg owing to Metro construction has drawn attention as a contributing factor in the incident. Notably, this stretch has seen heightened accident risk as construction activity compresses available road space for both inbound and outbound vehicles travelling at early-morning hours when visibility and alertness can be limited. This comes amid broader concerns about road safety in Mumbai's active Metro corridor zones.
Separate Fatal Accident on Mumbai Coastal Road
In an unrelated incident on the same morning, three people were killed and one was critically injured in a high-speed car crash on the Mumbai Coastal Road at around 5.20 am, according to the Coastal Road Control Room. The accident occurred near Lotus Jetty, opposite Lala College, when a high-end car travelling from Marine Drive toward Haji Ali reportedly veered out of control, allegedly due to overspeeding. Investigations into both incidents are ongoing.
Point of View
But it also highlights how much is riding on individual crew response rather than systemic safeguards. With Metro construction timelines extending across multiple corridors, the BEST and civic authorities need a consistent protocol for night and early-morning operations on restricted stretches before a more serious incident forces a reckoning.
NationPress
20 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Where did the BEST bus accident happen in Mumbai?
The accident occurred in Mulund West on LBS Marg, where Metro construction work had narrowed traffic to a single lane. The BEST bus on Route 496 was heading from SEEPZ to Teen Hath Naka in Thane when it collided head-on with an oncoming private travel bus at around 5.50 am on Sunday, 20 September 2026.
Who is the injured BEST bus driver and what is his condition?
The injured driver is Sandeep Namdev Karande, 40. He sustained injuries to his abdomen and right leg and was admitted to Agarwal Hospital in Mulund, where authorities said he was conscious and in a stable condition.
What caused the fire in the BEST bus after the collision?
A minor fire broke out in the bonnet of the BEST bus immediately after the head-on impact. The bus conductor used the onboard fire extinguisher to douse the flames before they could spread further.
What happened on the Mumbai Coastal Road the same morning?
Separately, three people were killed and one was critically injured in a car crash near Lotus Jetty, opposite Lala College, on the Mumbai Coastal Road at around 5.20 am. The high-end car was allegedly travelling at high speed from Marine Drive toward Haji Ali when the driver reportedly lost control.
Did Metro construction work contribute to the Mulund bus crash?
Ongoing Metro construction on LBS Marg had restricted traffic movement to a single lane at the crash site, according to reports. Authorities have not formally attributed the collision to the construction, but the lane restriction is being noted as a contextual factor.
