A fire broke out in a BEST wet lease double-decker electric bus operated by Switch Mobility on Tuesday morning near Siddharth College signal in South Mumbai. No injuries were reported in the incident.
The bus, bearing registration number MH-43-CE-1709 and assigned to Route A138, belongs to the Colaba Depot. According to officials, the incident occurred around 9:15 AM while the bus was en route to Backbay Depot from Bhatia Baug.
As the vehicle approached the Siddharth College signal, flames were noticed near the high-voltage battery compartment located adjacent to the front left tyre. The bus conductor promptly alerted the fire brigade and local police.
Emergency responders from the fire brigade arrived at the scene and managed to bring the fire under control. Fortunately, no passengers or staff members sustained injuries during the incident.
Officials from the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking, including the Divisional Duty Manager (DDM), Senior Traffic Officers (STO), and engineering staff, were immediately informed and responded to the situation.
An investigation has been initiated to determine the cause of the fire. The Deputy Engineer of Bus Control has been notified for further technical examination.
Fire breaks out on BEST bus near Mumbai`s Churchgate Station
Earlier in April, a fire broke out on a Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) bus at Maharshi Karve Marg near Churchgate Station. All the passengers were safely evacuated and no injuries have been reported in the incident.
According to the Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB), they received information about the incident at 9.58 pm.
They soon mobilised their resources to douse the fire and it was extinguished at 10.02 pm.
Platform 4 at Churchgate Station was shut between 9.50 pm and 10.31 pm as a precautionary measure and only three platforms remained functional.
Earlier in January, a fire broke out at a Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) at Oshiwara depot in the western suburbs of Mumbai. The blaze was reported inside the Oshiwara Bus Depot while a vehicle was being repaired. The incident occurred when a vehicle owned by wet lease contractors M/s Hansa caught fire due to a technical fault, specifically overheating, during the repair process.
