The Kurla fruit market, a bustling hub for budget-conscious buyers, became the site of most fatalities. Shoppers, including office-goers and families, were caught off guard as the bus crashed into the area.

Shyam Pahurkar, who works at the airport, was enjoying tea with friends when the bus tore through the market. He vividly recalls the commotion and the tragic death of 19-year-old Afreen Shah, whose first day as a makeup artist ended in catastrophe. Pahurkar reflected on the fragile nature of life, saying, “I have a daughter Afreen’s age,” as he recalled the young woman’s tragic end and the horror of witnessing lives upended in moments.

Surekha Rajbhog, a shopkeeper, witnessed the bus veer dangerously as she handed change to a customer. Although the bus didn’t strike anyone near her shop, she recalls the fear as it disappeared down the street, leaving chaos in its wake.

Hareshbhai Jetwa, who owns a shop nearby, recalls how the bus struck a parked scooter outside his store, fatally injuring an elderly man. “My brother had been standing on that spot moments earlier,” he shared while showing CCTV footage of the incident. Jetwa’s CCTV footage captures the horrifying scene of the bus hurtling at approximately 60 kmph, zigzagging uncontrollably, and smashing into vehicles and people. Jetwa described the driver’s lack of control, saying, “He wasn’t just overspeeding; he was swerving left and right. The driver seemed to have no control.”

Shashi Verma, Chief Technology Officer at Transport for London, criticised the wet-lease system, noting that London adopted the more robust Quality Incentive Contract (QIC) model for its privatisation, which includes extensive driver training. Verma emphasised the importance of thorough training, sharing that under QIC, drivers undergo weeks of training, including practice on empty buses, to ensure readiness for emergencies.