BEST electric bus catches fire in Mumbai’s Chembur; driver spots smoke in time

On Sunday morning, a BEST bus operating from the Deonar depot caught fire in Chembur due to a suspected short circuit in its battery box, according to officials. The incident occurred around 8am near Ram Mandir in Chembur Colony when the A-364 route A-364 bus suffered a fault while in service. The driver spotted smoke under the driver's cabin and promptly halted the vehicle.

Upon inspection, he discovered sparks emanating from the battery box, leading to a fire. Despite the blaze, no passengers or staff sustained injuries. The driver utilized all three fire extinguishers available on the bus to successfully extinguish the flames by 8:15am. Passengers also alerted the fire brigade, resulting in a fire engine's arrival at the scene.

By then, the fire had already been put out. Fire brigade personnel disconnected the battery connection and removed the battery as a precautionary measure. BEST mechanics and personnel from the wet-lease bus's private contractor were subsequently dispatched to the site. The damaged bus was subsequently towed to Deonar depot for a comprehensive inspection and required repairs.

This incident comes amid heightened concerns over the maintenance and safety of wet-lease buses operated by Mumbai Suburban Railway. Officials are anticipated to investigate the battery and electrical systems to ascertain the exact cause of the short circuit and evaluate if any maintenance-related issue played a role in the incident.