A major fire broke out at the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) Anik Bus Depot in central Mumbai on Monday evening, October 5, sending thick clouds of black smoke over the area and triggering a rapid emergency response. Several newly acquired buses parked inside the depot yard were engulfed in flames, with officials confirming that at least 10 buses were destroyed. Some reports put the number at 12.

The incident occurred around 5:45 pm at the Anik depot near the Sion RTO Passing area. Fortunately, the buses were not carrying passengers and no injuries or casualties were reported. Firefighters managed to bring the blaze under control after an extended operation involving multiple fire engines, water tankers and other emergency vehicles.

Mumbai BEST Bus Depot Fire Breaks Out in the Evening

The fire started in the Anik depot yard, where a number of buses were parked in a row. According to officials, the affected vehicles were air-conditioned midi buses, a compact single-decker category used as part of the city's expanding public transport fleet.

The buses were CNG-powered and had been supplied to BEST by private operator Daga Group under the wet-lease model. Importantly, the vehicles had reportedly not yet entered regular passenger service.

The exact circumstances that triggered the fire remain unclear. Authorities are expected to examine the vehicles, the depot infrastructure and the sequence in which the flames spread before determining the cause.

The Mumbai Fire Brigade responded quickly after receiving information about the blaze. Multiple firefighting units were deployed to prevent the fire from spreading to other vehicles and areas within the depot.

At Least 10 New BEST Buses Destroyed

The fire caused substantial damage because several buses were parked close to one another. Officials said at least 10 new CNG buses were gutted, while another account put the number at 12.

The affected buses were part of BEST's ongoing fleet expansion programme. The transport undertaking has been adding new vehicles while gradually replacing older buses. More than 140 new buses have reportedly been added to the fleet in recent months, with more than 50 additional buses expected to be inducted.

The loss of newly procured buses is therefore significant, particularly as Mumbai's public transport system continues to rely heavily on BEST services to move large numbers of commuters across the city.

The buses destroyed in the Anik depot fire were reportedly part of a new consignment and had not yet begun carrying passengers. That fact helped prevent what could have been a far more serious public safety incident.

Thick Black Smoke and Reports of Explosions

The blaze quickly attracted attention from residents and people in the surrounding area as thick black smoke rose from the depot.

Eyewitnesses reported hearing loud blasts during the fire. Some claimed that the explosions were linked to the CNG tanks installed in the buses. However, these accounts do not establish the cause of the fire, and officials have not confirmed that a CNG tank explosion triggered the incident.

Some trees within the depot premises were also reportedly singed as the flames spread.

Because CNG is stored under high pressure, a fire involving CNG-powered vehicles can create additional challenges for emergency responders. This makes rapid isolation of the affected vehicles and cooling operations particularly important during a depot fire.

The fire was eventually brought under control after firefighters worked at the scene for more than an hour. Reports indicated that the operation continued until around 8:20 pm as emergency teams worked to completely extinguish the flames and secure the area.

Firefighters Deploy Multiple Emergency Vehicles

The scale of the response reflected the potential risk posed by a fire involving several buses parked together.

At least four fire engines and five water tankers were rushed to the Anik depot. Other specialised firefighting and emergency vehicles were also deployed to support the operation.

The Mumbai Fire Brigade, police personnel and BEST's traffic department were involved in the emergency response.

The immediate priority was to contain the flames and prevent them from spreading to additional buses or other infrastructure within the depot. Once the main blaze was controlled, emergency teams continued efforts to ensure that no secondary fire or flare-up occurred.

No injuries were reported among firefighters, BEST personnel or members of the public.

What Happened to the BEST Buses?

The buses destroyed in the Anik Bus Depot fire were newly acquired, air-conditioned midi buses operated by a private contractor for BEST.

The vehicles were reportedly parked at the depot rather than operating on city routes when the fire broke out. This is a crucial detail because it meant there were no passengers aboard the affected buses.

BEST has increasingly relied on private operators to expand its fleet through wet-lease arrangements. Under this system, buses supplied by private companies are operated as part of the public transport network.

The Daga Group was identified as the private operator associated with the buses involved in Monday's incident.

While the destruction of the vehicles represents a financial and operational setback, the absence of passengers significantly reduced the human risk associated with the incident.

Fire Cause Still Under Investigation

The biggest unanswered question following the Mumbai BEST Anik depot fire is what caused the blaze.

Officials have not yet established a definitive cause. A fire investigation will likely examine electrical systems, fuel systems, vehicle components, maintenance records and the condition of the buses before the incident.

Some preliminary speculation has focused on a possible electrical short circuit, while eyewitnesses spoke of explosions during the fire. Neither explanation should be treated as confirmed until the official investigation establishes what happened.

Determining the cause will be especially important because the affected vehicles were new and had reportedly not yet entered passenger service.

A detailed investigation could also help establish whether the fire originated in a single bus before spreading to neighbouring vehicles or whether another source within the depot triggered the blaze.

Fresh Safety Questions for Mumbai's Public Transport System

The Anik depot incident comes at a time when the safety of BEST's expanding fleet has attracted increased attention.

BEST has been adding new buses to its network as part of efforts to modernise and strengthen public transportation in Mumbai. The move is intended to improve the availability and quality of bus services for commuters.

However, fleet expansion also increases the importance of rigorous inspection, maintenance and depot safety procedures.

Recent bus-fire incidents involving BEST vehicles have already highlighted questions around technical faults, vehicle inspections and preventive maintenance. Against that backdrop, the Anik depot fire is likely to prompt renewed scrutiny of safety protocols for buses parked inside depots.

The incident also underlines the need for strong fire-prevention systems at large vehicle storage facilities. Depots where multiple fuel-powered buses are parked in close proximity require effective emergency access, firefighting equipment, vehicle spacing and clearly defined response procedures.

No Casualties, But Major Vehicle Loss

For Mumbai, the most important immediate relief is that Monday's fire did not result in any reported casualties.

The situation could have been considerably more dangerous had the buses been operating on city roads or carrying passengers when the fire occurred. Instead, the affected vehicles were parked inside the depot.

Nevertheless, the destruction of 10 or more new buses is a serious loss. These were part of BEST's effort to introduce newer vehicles and replace older buses across its network.

As authorities investigate the Mumbai BEST bus depot fire, attention will now turn to the cause of the blaze and whether any safety or maintenance issues contributed to its spread.

The incident serves as a reminder that modernising a public transport fleet involves more than adding new vehicles. Ensuring that every bus, depot and maintenance facility meets stringent safety standards is equally critical.

For now, the investigation into the Anik Bus Depot fire remains underway. Until the findings are released, questions surrounding the origin of the blaze, the reported explosions and the extent of damage will remain unanswered. What is clear, however, is that a potentially major public transport disaster was contained without loss of life.

With input from agencies
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