Mumbai woke to a tragic road accident on Sunday after a BMW carrying four people crashed through a barrier on the Coastal Road and plunged from a bridge. Three occupants died and another was critically injured in the crash.
The accident occurred in the early hours of September 20, 2026. According to authorities, the BMW was travelling from Marine Drive towards Haji Ali when the driver allegedly lost control near Lotus Jetty, opposite Lala Lajpatrai College.
CCTV footage recorded the incident and showed the vehicle moving at high speed before crashing through the edge of the elevated road. The BMW then fell into an under-construction parking area below. The car suffered severe damage as a result of the impact.
Emergency services were alerted shortly after the accident. The four occupants were rescued and transported to Nair Hospital. Doctors declared three of them dead, while another passenger was admitted with critical injuries.
Police identified two of the deceased as Shanay Gajjal, aged 21, and Dhairya Seth, aged 17. A third victim, described by officials as a man of approximately 25 years, had not been identified in the initial reports. The fourth occupant, believed to be around 20, remained critically injured.
The precise cause of the crash remains under investigation. Police are examining whether excessive speed, loss of control, the road layout or another factor played a role.
The CCTV footage is expected to be central to the investigation because it provides a visual account of the vehicle’s movement immediately before the crash. Investigators can use the footage alongside physical evidence from the site to establish the sequence of events.
The accident happened on a section of the Coastal Road that has elevated structures and access-controlled stretches. The road has different speed limits depending on the section. The main carriageway permits speeds of up to 80 kmph, while restrictions are lower on ramps, curves and other sections.
The crash also highlights the risks associated with high-speed driving on major urban roads. Even where a road is designed for smoother and faster traffic movement, sudden loss of control can have serious consequences.
The Mumbai Coastal Road is one of the city’s major infrastructure projects. It was developed to improve connectivity along Mumbai’s western coastline and reduce pressure on congested roads. However, motorists are required to follow traffic restrictions and speed limits while using the corridor.
Police have launched an inquiry into the accident. Further details are expected as investigators examine the CCTV recording, the damaged BMW, the location of the crash and statements from witnesses and officials.
For the families of those who died, the accident has resulted in an irreversible loss. Three young lives ended within seconds after the BMW crossed the roadside barrier.
The investigation will now seek to establish exactly what happened during those final moments and whether any preventable factor contributed to the crash.
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