The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport Undertaking (BEST) is likely to dismiss the driver of the double-decker bus, whose driving allegedly led to Friday’s mishap where a passenger was killed and 15 injured. However, on the first day of BEST inquiry, not a single witness turned up to give a statement.
“Jalinder Bhosale, the driver, will be sacked because prima facie inquiries indicate that he was speeding while taking a sharp turn,” said Ashok Patil, BEST chairman. After the accident, Bhosale was placed under suspension.
Meanwhile, the BEST on Monday initiated its departmental inquiry into the incident, but not a single witness turned up, including the injured or kind of the deceased.
When asked on what grounds the driver would be removed, Mr Patil replied, “As we are yet to finish our inquiry, we relied on the police’s investigations. The police report mentions that the incident occurred due to the driver’s negligence. That is reason enough.”
Currently, the BEST administration does not have any plan to ascertain if its drivers and conductors are under stress. “We have already reduced the working hours of drivers from the earlier eight hours to six hours. We cannot reduce it further,” Mr Patil said.