Smoke emanating from BEST bus in Mumbai causes panic, none hurt

Mumbai: Passengers on an air-conditioned BEST bus were briefly alarmed on Wednesday morning after smoke was noticed near the vehicle’s rear left tyre at Jambhori Maidan. The bus, operated from the Kurla depot and heading towards J. Mehta Marg, was immediately stopped by the driver, who asked commuters to alight and move to a safe distance. All passengers were evacuated without injuries, officials said.The conductor alerted the fire brigade, which reached the spot within minutes and inspected the bus. Fire personnel disconnected the battery connection, after which the smoke stopped, indicating a possible electrical fault or overheating component near the rear section. The area was secured while checks were carried out to ensure there was no spread of fire.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 said the matter will be examined and the bus will undergo necessary repairs before being put back into service.