The Unseen Toll: An 81-Year-Old's Tragic Morning Walk in Mulund

There's a certain rhythm to a Mumbai morning, isn't there? A hum of life, a rush of purpose. For many, it begins with quiet rituals, perhaps a spiritual journey, a visit to a nearby temple. And so it was, we imagine, for Sulochana Narayan Joshi, an 81-year-old woman who, just this past Thursday, set out on what should have been a peaceful walk in Mulund East.

But life, alas, can turn on a dime, can't it? Around half past eight, near the bustling intersection of LBS Marg and Dumping Road—a place familiar to so many commuters—that familiar morning hum was violently interrupted. Sulochana, crossing the street, was suddenly in the path of a BEST bus, a vehicle designed to ferry people safely across this sprawling city, but which, in a cruel twist of fate, became an instrument of tragedy that day.

The details, in truth, are stark. The bus, reportedly en route to Thane, struck her. A moment, perhaps, of misjudgment; a lapse, a blind spot, we can only speculate. What we do know is that the impact was devastating. She suffered severe injuries—to her head, to her chest—and was rushed to a nearby hospital. But for Sulochana, the journey had already ended. She was declared dead upon arrival. Just like that. An ordinary morning, extinguished.

The Mulund police, as is their duty, acted swiftly. An FIR was registered, naming the driver, 55-year-old Vilas Rane, under sections related to rash driving and causing death by negligence. He was, of course, arrested. And while the wheels of justice will now turn, nothing, absolutely nothing, can bring Sulochana back. Can it?

This incident, gut-wrenching as it is, forces us to pause. It isn't just a news item; it’s a deeply human story, a reminder, for once, of the fragility of life on our roads. We speak often of Mumbai's pace, its relentless energy, but sometimes, you could say, that very energy comes at a profound cost. Pedestrian safety remains a persistent, aching concern in our urban fabric. How many more such tragedies, we must ask ourselves, before real, systemic change takes root? Honestly, it’s a question that haunts the conscience of this city.