TOI Lucknow Photo – By Manoj Chhabra

Mumbai: A BEST bus driver has been booked after a stray dog was allegedly run over by a BEST bus at Wadala Workshop Bus Stop on Thursday, following which the animal died while being taken for treatment.According to the complaint filed by Trupti Shashikant Kale, 38, a private-sector employee and animal lover, the incident occurred around 8.40 pm on July 30 near Workshop Gate No. 4 on Tilak Road, Wadala.Kale told police that she was travelling home from work on her two-wheeler when she noticed a white male dog lying injured under the left rear wheel of BEST bus. The dog had suffered a severe injury to its left leg and was bleeding profusely.Kale, along with two passers-by identified as Jaydev Thorve, and Harshad Ranjit Halder, pulled the dog from beneath the bus. They allegedly informed the driver, Sachin Jangam, 44, that the bus had hit the dog and requested his assistance in taking the animal to a hospital. Jangam told them that he would need permission from the BEST control room before taking the dog out of the bus. Kale and the two men subsequently contacted animal welfare organisations but could not immediately arrange assistance.The complainant alleged that they repeatedly requested that the driver help transport the injured dog, but no assistance was provided for approximately 45 minutes. The trio eventually took the dog to the animal hospital on Dr S.S. Road, Parel, on Halder’s two-wheeler. Doctors examined the animal and declared it dead.Kale subsequently approached Matunga police and lodged a complaint, alleging that the BEST driver had driven carelessly and caused the death of the stray dog without providing it medical assistance. Police have registered a case and are conducting further investigation.