Mumbai: Bus carrying Cathay Pacific employees collides with tempo on Western Express Highway; 1 dead

The driver of a tempo was killed after a luxury bus hit his vehicle parked on the roadside on the Western Express Highway in Mumbai's Vakola area early on Friday, a police official said.

The incident took place after the tempo broke down on the south-bound leg of the highway, he said.

As per initial reports, the bus driver is absconding. However, none of the passengers on the bus suffered serious injuries.

"Driver Akhtar Chowdhary had to stop his tempo on the side of the highway due to some issue in the vehicle. However, the luxury bus carrying airport crew members hit it from behind, in which he suffered serious injuries and died later," the official said.

The tempo was carrying a stock of fish, he said.

The driver of the bus fled from the spot following the accident and a case was registered against him under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 279 (rash driving), 304-A (causing death by negligence) and the Motor Vehicles Act.

Passengers were employees of Cathay Pacific Airlines

The passengers in the Mercedes Benz bus were employees of the Cathay Pacific Airlines who were travelling to Hotel Taj Land's End. As soon as the bus reached the Vakola Bridge, the tempo and the bus collided head on.

Following the accident, there was a traffic jam on the Western Express Highway. Police are currently probing the incident further.