Mumbai: BEST Bus Driver’s Swift Action Saves Lives as Non-AC Bus Catches Fire on JVLR
Mumbai, 2nd October 2024: A BEST bus driver’s quick thinking saved his own life and that of the conductor when their bus caught fire at the Gandhi Nagar junction on JVLR on Monday afternoon.
The incident involved a non-AC CNG bus, which was destroyed in the blaze. Fortunately, there were no passengers on board at the time. BEST spokesperson Sudas Sawant reported that the driver noticed smoke coming from the engine at around 1:52 pm, and promptly pulled over, allowing both himself and the conductor to exit safely. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, with preliminary findings suggesting a “technical issue.”
The traffic police alerted the emergency response team after the driver reported the situation to the control room. By 2:10 pm, the fire had been successfully extinguished, and both the driver, Sanjay Suryavanshi, and the conductor, Ajit Sarate, were unharmed.
Commuter rights activists and former BEST committee members have expressed concerns about passenger safety due to similar bus fires in recent times, which they attribute to poor maintenance of contracted buses. A former senior BEST panel member commented, “While aiming to cut costs, BEST opted for contractual buses, but maintaining these buses and ensuring commuter safety should be a priority.”
A BEST workers’ union leader pointed out that under wet leasing agreements, BEST has limited control over the contractor’s handling of bus maintenance and operations. However, sources close to the wet lease contractor insisted that most buses on the roads were in good condition, free from major technical problems or commuter complaints.
Following multiple bus fires last year, BEST management removed 400 AC buses from service and instructed the contractor to conduct thorough inspections of all vehicles. This incident highlights the critical importance of routine maintenance and safety checks for public transportation to ensure the safety of both passengers and staff.
