Mumbai: Bus ferrying 20 razes boundary wall to stop at a house window

Thane Municipal Transport driver lost control of vehicle and, to avoid colliding with oncoming vehicles, crashed through Mulund society's compound wall. Bus screeched to a stop at a window grill

It is tough to imagine the astonished dread of the 20-odd passengers inside a Thane Municipal Transport bus when their driver rode through the compound wall of a housing society.

The incident occurred around 8.30 pm yesterday, bending the window grill out of shape. The chairman of Madhur Milan housing society said he would ask for compensation from the TMT. Pics/Sameer Markande

Tougher still is to think of Nilesh Thakkar’s disbelief, after he found the vehicle that had come screeching and crashing toward his house resting against his kitchen window. The situation arose around 8.30 pm yesterday, after the bus driver reportedly lost control over the vehicle following a brake failure.

According to an eyewitness, soon after crossing the Kamgar junction signal, the bus turned left to go to Mulund railway station when the brake allegedly failed, and to avoid colliding with oncoming vehicles, the driver steered the vehicle toward the wall of Madhur Milan housing society.

The speeding vehicle powered right through the society’s wall, knocking it down like a Lego structure, and jammed to a halt at one of the houses, resting against the ground-floor apartment’s window grill. Nilesh Thakkar, the owner of the apartment, said, “I was in the hall when I heard a thud from the kitchen area.

I raced to the kitchen and was shocked to see a bus against to the window of our house. It had almost crushed the grill. My daughter was in the kitchen, but fortunately the vehicle didn’t drive straight through our house. Repairing the damage caused to my house will cost me around Rs 25,000.”

By midnight, fire brigade and police officials had taken the bus away. The driver, Madhukar Bhoir (47), suffered minor injuries, but the 20-odd passengers in the bus, including the conductor, were unhurt. Gulab Bhai Churla, chairman of Madhur Milan colony, said, “The police officials have conducted a panchnama and authorities from the Thane transport body have examined the place. We will demand suitable compensation from them.”

Meanwhile, officials from Mulund police station said they had booked the driver under sections 279 (rash driving) and 427 (mischief causing damage) of the Indian Penal Code. Commenting on the issue, TMT manager Devidas Tekale, said, “We are currently investigating to find out the exact cause of the accident. After studying the matter we will decide on the compensation package that could be given to the housing society.”

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