Two pedestrians were killed in separate road accidents in Mulund on Saturday, triggering protests by local residents who demanded restrictions on the movement of heavy vehicles in residential areas.
In the first incident, a 70-year-old woman was run over by a speeding BEST bus near the Mulund (West) bus depot, while in another accident, a 37-year-old man was killed after being hit by a dumper in Mulund Colony. Following the incidents, around 200 residents gathered in Mulund Colony and near the BEST depot, expressing anger over poor traffic regulation.
The first accident occurred around 6.50 pm when Sudamadevi Gupta, a resident of Siddharth Nagar, Mulund (West), was on her routine evening walk to a nearby garden. According to local residents, Gupta often used the internal road near the BEST depot to avoid heavy traffic.
“When she was just a few metres away from the depot gate and about to turn towards the garden, a BEST bus entering the depot at high speed hit her from behind,” said Rahul Gawale, a local resident.
The bus allegedly failed to notice the woman walking ahead. Gupta suffered severe head injuries and was rushed to Agarwal Hospital by passersby. She was later shifted to Hira Mongi Navneet Hospital, where she died during treatment, police said.
Mulund police registered a case against the bus driver based on a complaint filed by Gupta’s younger son, Jitendra Gupta (36), a resident of Shivaji Nagar, Thane (West). Police said the driver was negligent while entering the depot.
Gupta is survived by her two sons, Surendra and Jitendra. Surendra, an autorickshaw driver, lives in Mulund with his family. Following the accident, several autorickshaw drivers and residents gathered at the spot, alleging frequent speeding by BEST buses.
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“BEST bus drivers drive rashly. Similar accidents have occurred earlier, including a biker who was killed in Kurla on Friday,” said Gawale, who is associated with an autorickshaw union.
In another incident, Suresh Rajput (37) was killed after being hit by a dumper while walking along Guru Gobind Singh Marg in Mulund Colony. Rajput, a resident of Bhandup, was returning home when the dumper allegedly lost control while overspeeding and struck him.
The driver fled the scene fearing public assault, police said. Rajput was taken to Agarwal Hospital, where he was declared dead around 3 pm. Later, the dumper driver turned himself in at the police station. Mulund police registered a case against him and arrested him.
Angered by the back-to-back accidents, residents demanded an immediate ban on the entry of dumpers, water tankers and other heavy vehicles into the narrow roads of Mulund Colony.
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“There are narrow internal roads here. Heavy vehicles not only cause traffic congestion but also fatal accidents. Dumpers carrying debris use colony roads to avoid police checks,” said Kamal Kotai, a local resident and lawyer.
Kotai also alleged rampant corruption and unplanned construction in the area. “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. For two years, we have only seen poor-quality road work and illegal structures, while local representatives remain indifferent,” he said. Police said they are reviewing traffic arrangements in the area following the protests.
