A devastating accident on Mumbai’s Coastal Road has claimed three lives after a BMW crashed through a roadside barrier and plunged from a bridge into an under-construction parking area.
The incident occurred at approximately 5:20 a.m. on Sunday. According to police and hospital officials, four people were inside the vehicle when it crashed.
The BMW was travelling from Marine Drive towards Haji Ali. Officials said the driver allegedly lost control near Lotus Jetty, opposite Lala Lajpatrai College. CCTV footage showed the vehicle approaching the area before crashing through the barrier and falling from the elevated road.
The fall caused major damage to the luxury car. Rescue personnel reached the location and transported all four occupants to Nair Hospital.
Three occupants were declared dead. Two victims were identified as Shanay Gajjal, aged 21, and Dhairya Seth, aged 17. The third victim was described as a man around 25 years old whose identity was still being established.
The fourth passenger, believed to be approximately 20 years old, survived the initial impact but suffered critical injuries. He was admitted to the trauma ward for treatment.
The accident is now being investigated by Mumbai Police. Officers are studying CCTV footage and other evidence to determine the circumstances leading to the crash.
The footage provides investigators with a visual record of the vehicle’s movements before it struck the barrier. It may help establish the approximate speed, direction and trajectory of the car.
However, the final cause of the crash will depend on the police investigation and other available evidence. Initial reports have described the vehicle as speeding, but investigators still need to establish the precise circumstances.
Mumbai’s Coastal Road is an important access-controlled corridor intended to improve connectivity across the city. The main carriageway allows vehicles to travel at speeds of up to 80 kmph, while lower limits apply on certain sections including ramps and curves.
The road’s design includes elevated structures, tunnels and interchanges. These features require drivers to maintain lane discipline and observe posted speed restrictions.
The BMW crash occurred on an elevated portion of the road where a barrier separated the carriageway from the area below. Once the vehicle crossed the barrier, it fell into the construction area.
The circumstances of the accident are particularly significant because of the severity of the fall. A vehicle leaving an elevated roadway can sustain substantial damage, leaving occupants vulnerable to severe injuries.
Authorities will also need to establish whether any road-safety infrastructure was damaged in the collision and document the condition of the barrier after the crash.
For now, police have confirmed three deaths and one critical injury. The investigation remains underway.
The incident has also drawn renewed attention to responsible driving on Mumbai’s high-speed road infrastructure. While the Coastal Road is intended to make journeys faster and more efficient, motorists are still required to observe speed limits and other traffic regulations.
The CCTV footage provides a crucial starting point for investigators. The next stages of the inquiry will determine what caused the driver to lose control and whether any other circumstances contributed to the fatal crash.
