The quiet residential neighbourhoods of Mulund were shaken by tragedy and anger on Saturday after two pedestrians lost their lives in separate road accidents. The incidents, involving a speeding BEST bus and a dumper, have ignited fierce protests from local residents demanding an immediate ban on heavy vehicles using their narrow internal roads.
Two Tragic Incidents Claim Lives
In the first incident, a 70-year-old woman, Sudamadevi Gupta, was killed during her routine evening walk. The resident of Siddharth Nagar in Mulund (West) was walking towards a nearby garden, using an internal road near the Mulund (West) BEST bus depot to avoid heavy traffic around 6:50 pm.
According to eyewitness accounts, a BEST bus entering the depot at high speed hit Gupta from behind when she was just metres away from the depot gate. She suffered severe head injuries. Passersby rushed her to Agarwal Hospital, and she was later shifted to Hira Mongi Navneet Hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries.
The Mulund police registered a case against the bus driver based on a complaint filed by Gupta's younger son, Jitendra Gupta (36). Police stated the driver was negligent while entering the depot. The victim is survived by her two sons, Surendra and Jitendra.
In a separate accident, Suresh Rajput (37), a resident of Bhandup, was killed after being struck by a dumper on Guru Gobind Singh Marg in Mulund Colony. Rajput was walking home when the overspeeding dumper allegedly lost control and hit him. The driver initially fled the scene but later surrendered at the police station. Rajput was declared dead at Agarwal Hospital around 3 pm.
Residents' Fury Erupts in Protest
Enraged by the back-to-back fatalities, approximately 200 residents gathered in Mulund Colony and near the BEST depot to voice their anger over what they called poor traffic regulation and rampant negligence.
Local residents and autorickshaw drivers, who gathered at the spot of the first accident, accused BEST bus drivers of habitual rash driving. "BEST bus drivers drive rashly. Similar accidents have occurred earlier," said Rahul Gawale, a local associated with an autorickshaw union, referencing a recent biker's death in Kurla.
The protestors' primary demand was an immediate restriction on the movement of heavy vehicles like dumpers, water tankers, and buses on the narrow internal roads of Mulund Colony. They argued these vehicles cause both congestion and deadly accidents.
Underlying Issues: Corruption and Unplanned Construction
The protests highlighted deeper, systemic issues plaguing the area. Kamal Kotai, a local resident and lawyer, alleged that dumpers carrying debris use colony roads to bypass police checks. He pointed a finger at rampant corruption and unplanned construction.
"Mulund Colony was originally developed for officers displaced during Partition. Today, due to unchecked construction and corruption between civic officials and contractors, it is being ruined," Kotai stated. He lamented poor-quality road work, illegal structures, and the indifference of local representatives over the past two years.
In response to the public outcry, the police have stated they are reviewing the traffic arrangements in the area. The twin accidents have put a stark spotlight on the urgent need for improved road safety measures and stricter enforcement of traffic rules in Mumbai's residential suburbs to prevent such heartbreaking losses in the future.
