How 'Neutral' Mode Confusion Led to a Heartbreaking Tragedy in Mumbai

​A quiet Monday night in Mumbai’s bustling Bhandup area turned into a scene of absolute chaos and heartbreak. What was supposed to be a regular commute for hundreds of people outside the railway station ended in a nightmare that has once again put the spotlight on the safety of our public transport. A BEST electric bus, part of the city's modernizing fleet, became an instrument of tragedy, claiming four lives and injuring many more.

​The cause? Something as seemingly simple yet technically complex as "mode confusion." The driver reportedly believed the bus was in neutral, but the reality was far more dangerous. This incident isn't just a news story; it is a wake-up call about the intersection of new technology, human error, and the high-pressure environment of Mumbai's streets.

​The Moment the Night Turned Dark

​The incident occurred around 10:00 pm on Monday, outside the Bhandup (West) railway station. This is one of those classic Mumbai locations—packed with commuters, lined with hawkers, and narrow enough that every inch of road space is a battleground. People were standing in queues, waiting for their buses to take them home after a long day of work.

​Suddenly, a BEST electric bus on route 606, which was stationary just moments before, surged forward with terrifying speed. There was no warning. Witness accounts and CCTV footage from nearby shops capture a horrifying scene: the heavy vehicle mounting the footpath and ramming into the crowd. People who were just seconds away from boarding their buses were suddenly running for their lives. By the time the bus stopped, four people—including three women—had lost their lives, and over a dozen were left with serious injuries.

​The Driver’s Statement: A Fatal Misunderstanding

​The driver, 52-year-old Santosh Ramesh Sawant, was arrested on the spot. During his interrogation, he provided a chilling explanation for why the bus behaved the way it did. According to his statement, he had just taken over the bus for his shift change. He assumed the vehicle was in "neutral" mode.

​In an electric bus, the interface is different from the traditional manual buses many veteran drivers are used to. When Sawant turned on the ignition and pressed the accelerator, he expected the engine to rev while staying still. Instead, because the bus was actually in "drive" mode, it lunged forward.

​In that split second of panic, the "neutral mode confusion" took hold. When the bus jerked forward, the driver’s natural reflex should have been to hit the brakes. However, in the heat of the moment, he reportedly kept pressing the accelerator, possibly confusing it with the brake or simply being overwhelmed by the sudden movement. Realizing he was heading straight for a massive queue of nearly 100 people, he steered hard to the right. While this may have avoided an even larger massacre, the bus crashed into a smaller group on the footpath, leading to the fatalities.

​The Role of Shift Changes and Hand Brakes

​A deeper look into the driver’s claim reveals a systemic issue. Sawant alleged that the previous driver, who had just finished his shift, had left the bus in "drive" mode with the handbrake engaged. In many modern electric vehicles, the handbrake can hold the vehicle even if it is technically in gear.

​When the new driver took the seat, he didn't check the digital display or the gear buttons carefully enough. He released the handbrake and touched the pedal, triggering the electric motor's instant torque. Unlike diesel engines that take a moment to build power, electric motors provide 100% of their power the moment you touch the pedal. This "instant surge" is a known factor in electric vehicle accidents involving inexperienced or confused drivers.

​Why Technology Can Be a Double-Edged Sword

​Mumbai’s BEST has been aggressively moving toward a "Green" fleet, replacing old diesel buses with sleek, silent electric ones. While this is great for the environment, it introduces a steep learning curve for the workforce.

​Most of these drivers have spent decades driving manual buses where "neutral" is a physical position of a gear stick that you can feel with your hand. In the new buses, "neutral" is often just a button or a position on a dial. If the driver is tired, distracted by the chaotic surroundings of a station, or hasn't been trained specifically on the nuances of electric torque, a "mode confusion" accident is a tragedy waiting to happen.

​The Footpath Crisis: A Contributing Factor

​While the driver’s error was the immediate cause, many locals pointed out a secondary, long-standing issue: the state of Mumbai’s roads. Outside Bhandup station, the footpaths are almost entirely taken over by hawkers and stalls.

​Because there is no room on the designated walking paths, commuters are forced to stand on the edge of the road or in narrow "queues" that are completely exposed to traffic. If the pedestrians had been behind a proper barrier or on a clear footpath, the bus might have hit a pole or a wall instead of human beings. The tragedy is a grim reminder that road safety isn't just about the driver; it’s about the entire urban design.

​The Aftermath and Seeking Accountability

​The police have booked the driver under serious charges, including culpable homicide not amounting to murder. However, the conversation in Mumbai has moved beyond just one man’s mistake. There are growing demands for an inquiry into the training protocols for "wet-lease" bus drivers.

​Wet-lease buses are those where a private company provides the bus and the driver to BEST. Critics argue that these drivers sometimes receive less rigorous training than permanent BEST employees. Whether it was a human error, a technical glitch in the "drive/neutral" transition, or a lack of proper orientation on the electric bus's sensitivity, the families of those who died deserve clear answers.

​Lessons for a Moving City

​As Mumbai continues to modernize its transport system, this tragedy serves as a dark lesson. We cannot simply introduce advanced technology without ensuring that the humans operating it are 100% comfortable with its quirks.

​Training must go beyond just "how to drive" and move toward "how to handle emergencies" and "understanding digital interfaces." Furthermore, the city must address the "death traps" created by encroached footpaths. No commuter should have to risk their life just by standing in a bus queue.

​Conclusion: A Heavy Price for a Simple Error

​The "neutral mode confusion" in Bhandup is a tragedy that could have been avoided. It was a perfect storm of a confused driver, a high-torque electric vehicle, a shift-change oversight, and a dangerously crowded street. As the city mourns the four lives lost, the hope is that this leads to better safety sensors in buses—perhaps a system that prevents acceleration if the bus was started in drive mode without a foot on the brake.

​In a city as fast as Mumbai, a single second of confusion shouldn't have to cost four lives. We owe it to the victims to ensure that "mode confusion" never leads to such a massacre again.

​Would you like me to look up the current safety features or "Interlock" systems being proposed for electric buses to prevent these types of accidents?