Two days after tragic BEST bus crash, Mumbai bus drivers seen stashing *liquor* in seat consoles

Barely two days after the Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport (BEST) bus met with a tragic accident leaving seven dead and 42 injured on Dec 9, two videos of uniformed BEST drivers stashing bottles of alcohol in their respective driving consoles did the rounds on social media on Dec 12, underscoring the need for stringent and frequent checks of the on-duty drivers.

In one of the videos, a driver is seen buying a bottle of liquor from a local wine shop and walking up to a stationary bus (MH-01-DR-7824).

On being questioned by unidentified onlookers as he enters the bus, he is heard denying being drunk, which leads to a heated exchange between him and the group of people.

In the second video, a security officer is seen questioning the driver of a bus — whose number is not fully clear in the video — holding up a half-empty bottle of liquor. The driver tells the officer, “I am drunk but this is not my bottle.”

BEST sources were quoted as saying that while the first video “possibly taken somewhere in Bandra East” is being scrutinized by the department, the second one was most likely taken somewhere between Ghatkopar and Mulund during the inspection of the bus at the Mulund depot, where a security guard found a liquor bottle kept behind the driver’s seat last month.

The incident took place in mid-November around the time of the assembly election.

“No one is there to control or take responsibility of wet-lease drivers. It has become a norm to hire manpower on a contractual basis without any responsibility. Drivers are known to use mobile phones while on the job with impunity,” Mohammed Afzal, member of the Welfare Organisation for Road Safety & Prevention of Accidents was quoted as saying.

“We have already begun an investigation to verify the two videos and suitable action will be taken on the drivers. We have decided to start breathalyzer tests on drivers soon,” a BEST official was quoted as saying.

“The videos have been forwarded to the concerned department with a request to furnish details,” BEST spokesperson Sudas Sawant was quoted as saying. Another official added since the transport body has already decided to “introduce breathalyzer tests on drivers such incidents will be minimized in future”.

Allegations

Incidentally, soon after erring driver Sanjay More was taken into custody after he ploughed the e-bus into many pedestrians and vehicles on Dec 9, there were allegations that he was drunk. The allegation was eventually quashed by the BEST administration.

A driver of a bus operated on the wet-lease model however refuted the claim that outsourced drivers are known to drink and drive.

“The allegations on wet-lease drivers are baseless, as we value the lives of people,” the driver was quoted as saying.

Another driver wishing anonymity said, “Unlike BEST drivers who work for eight to nine hours, we are expected to complete trips as per schedule, which take up to 10 hours, depending on traffic and road conditions. This takes a toll on our mind,"