Key Points:
- Fire erupted around 10:00 AM in Borivali-bound sleeper coach near Malad East
- Incident occurred near Times of India Bridge, under Metro Line 7 (Red Line)
- All passengers safely evacuated before fire intensified, no injuries reported
- Firefighters extinguished blaze in approximately 30 minutes
- Bus completely gutted, traffic severely disrupted during peak morning hours
- Cause under investigation, suspected short circuit or technical malfunction
- Multiple agencies responded including fire brigade, police, metro authorities, and ambulance services
Chaos erupted on the Western Express Highway (WEH), considered the lifeline of Mumbai, on Tuesday morning. A moving sleeper coach bus suddenly caught fire near Malad East. The incident, which occurred during peak hours, caused long queues of vehicles on the highway and severely disrupted traffic.
Bus engulfed in flames near Times of India Bridge
According to information received from BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) officials, the incident occurred around 10:00 AM on Tuesday. A private sleeper coach bus, heading towards Borivali, was near the Times of India Bridge flyover in Malad (East) when smoke started emanating from its front section. Within moments, the fire engulfed the entire bus. The blaze occurred underneath Metro Line 7, the Red Line’s bridge, sending thick black smoke visible to commuters.
Passengers were safely evacuated before the fire intensified
Fortunately, the passengers on board were safely evacuated before the fire intensified. Although the exact number of passengers on the bus is not yet clear, civic officials confirmed that there were no casualties in the incident. All passengers were safely disembarked from the bus in time, saving their lives. Videos circulating on social media show the bus engulfed in flames while traffic slowly moves on the adjacent lanes.
Fire brigade’s swift action and the traffic situation
Upon receiving the information at 10:01 AM, fire brigade vehicles rushed to the spot along with personnel from the police, metro authorities, traffic police, and a 108 ambulance service. Firefighters managed to completely extinguish the fire by 10:33 AM after about 30 minutes of hard work. However, by the time the fire was put out, the bus was completely gutted. Due to the incident occurring during peak hours, traffic on the Western Express Highway slowed down considerably, causing significant inconvenience to office-goers. The highway, which connects southern Mumbai to the northern suburbs and beyond, saw vehicles backed up for several kilometers before normal flow was restored.
Investigation into the cause of the fire is underway
According to initial information, the fire started in the engine or the front part of the bus. However, the actual cause of the fire is yet to be determined. The police and fire department are investigating the matter from the angle of a short circuit or a technical malfunction. Currently, efforts are underway to remove the damaged bus from the highway and restore normal traffic flow. The Mumbai Fire Brigade has declared the incident a Level-I (minor) fire, though the vehicle was destroyed.
