NAVI MUMBAI: In two successive mishaps within 24 hours, two separate accidents involving 3 ST buses were reported on a sharp curve road at Kurla village in Mahad, Raigad. In the latest mishap a packed Mahad to Borivli-bound ST bus driver lost control on Thursday afternoon.

The bus veered off the road to dash the roadside hill resulting in minor injury of five passengers.In the second accident, 12 passengers were injured in a head-on-head collision between two ST buses on Wednesday evening. One of the ST buses was moving towards Pimpri-Chinchwad in Pune while the other was going from Mahad to Ambvade. The victims were admitted to the sub-district hospital, Mahad.Meanwhile, till today 15 mishaps have been reported on this stretch and 16 bikers have fallen down due to skidding on the slippery road surface curvature.

This raises a concern among rescue activists who allege poor quality road repairing works. The road stretch was repaired recently with addition of an upper layer on the surface.The passengers of the Borivali bound bus took alternate vehicles to reach their destination. They were assisted by local rescuers.The Mahad Taluka police have booked the Pune bound ST bus driver for allegedly causing the second accident resulting in injury of the passengers.

The driver has been booked for negligent and rash driving causing injury under the relevant sections of the BNS and the Motor Vehicle Act.Mahad rescue activist, Prashant Salunke alleged, “The poor quality road repairing work has left the sharp curve slippery with oil like liquid. This has resulted in 15 mishaps including the two bus accidents and bike skidding involving 16 bikers.”The PWD engineer concerned, Tukaram Sanalkar did not respond to our calls and text messages.