Mumbai: Passengers on an air-conditioned BEST bus experienced a brief moment of alarm on Wednesday morning when smoke was observed near the vehicle’s rear left tyre at Jambhori Maidan. The bus, which was operated from the Kurla depot and en route to J. Mehta Marg, was promptly halted by the driver. He instructed all commuters to disembark and move to a safe distance. Officials confirmed that all passengers were evacuated without any injuries.
Immediate Response and Inspection
The conductor alerted the fire brigade, which arrived at the scene within minutes and conducted a thorough inspection of the bus. Fire personnel disconnected the battery connection, after which the smoke ceased. This indicated a possible electrical fault or an overheating component near the rear section of the vehicle. The area was secured while checks were carried out to ensure that there was no spread of fire.
Follow-up Actions
The incident was reported to the BEST control room, which dispatched a breakdown van to assist and assess the mechanical condition of the bus. Operations on the route were briefly affected as the vehicle remained halted during the inspection. BEST officials stated that the matter will be examined thoroughly, and the bus will undergo necessary repairs before being put back into service.
