BEST bus catches fire in Vikhroli, no casualties

The driver and conductor used the fire extinguisher to control the blaze before it could spread.

The Mumbai Fire Brigade received the call at 3.29 pm and the fire was extinguished by 3.44 pm.

“The driver and conductor acted promptly, using the bus’s fire extinguisher to bring the situation under control, and informed the fire brigade immediately,” said the spokesperson of BEST adding that no one was injured in the incident.

The passengers were safely evacuated before the arrival of the fire brigade.

BEST officials said the incident occurred in a wet lease bus, which is a vehicle operated by a private contractor on behalf of BEST. Officials suspect that damage in wiring in the driver’s cabin was the cause of the fire.

An inspection of the bus will be carried to review the electrical system.

This is the second incident of a BEST bus catching fire in a period of a month.

On July 15, a double-decker bus operated on wet lease by the BEST caught fire near Siddharth College signal in South Mumbai. No casualties were reported in the incident.

The undertaking has said it remains committed to passenger safety and will take necessary measures following the investigation.