Electric AC Double Decker Bus Damaged in Fire at Kurla Depot in Mumbai

An empty electric double-decker bus was gutted in a fire at the Kurla depot of the Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport (BEST) Undertaking on Sunday, triggering fresh concerns over the safety of electric bus fleets. No injuries were reported.

The blaze broke out inside the depot near the Kanakia Building at around 4.14 pm, with smoke first noticed minutes earlier as the vehicle was undergoing repairs. Mumbai Fire Brigade officials said the bus was parked and out of service, which helped avert casualties.

Depot staff initially attempted to control the flames using multiple fire extinguishers, but the fire intensified before firefighters arrived and fully doused it by around 6.15 pm. The incident also led to temporary disruption of operations at the depot as a precautionary measure.

Preliminary findings suggest the blaze may have been caused by a battery-related “thermal incident” , possibly linked to recharging or maintenance of the electric system. The bus had reportedly been withdrawn from service on May 1 after developing a technical fault and had remained stationary for several days.

Authorities said the battery may have been recharged to a high level before the vehicle failed to restart, with smoke later emanating from the battery compartment before the fire broke out. Experts note that such incidents could be linked to thermal runaway , a condition where heat rapidly builds up within battery cells.

BEST and manufacturer Switch Mobility have launched a joint technical investigation. Officials have also ordered enhanced safety audits, stricter maintenance checks, and mandatory clearance before electric buses are returned to service.

Mumbai currently operates around 50 electric double-decker buses , each capable of carrying up to 80 passengers, making even a single vehicle loss operationally significant.