A major disaster was averted on Thursday afternoon when around 12 passengers aboard an MSRTC Shivshahi bus managed to escape moments before the vehicle was engulfed in flames on Satis Bridge, near the MSRTC bus stand adjacent to Thane railway station.
Incident Details
The incident occurred at approximately 1:30 pm. The diesel-powered bus, which was en route from Pune to the Vasai depot, was halted after the crew noticed smoke emanating from the underside of the vehicle. Acting swiftly, the staff evacuated all passengers to safety. Within minutes, the entire bus was consumed by fire.
Emergency Response
Rescue teams from the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC), Thane Municipal Transport (TMT), and the municipal fire brigade arrived promptly at the scene and managed to douse the flames. However, the bus was completely charred beyond recognition. The exact cause of the fire is yet to be determined and will be investigated by authorities.
Impact on Services
The blaze led to the suspension of bus services from Thane West railway station, resulting in a significant buildup of commuters. To manage the situation, passengers were redirected to Gaondevi bus station and Thane East bus stand. Commuters faced inconvenience as alternative arrangements were made.
Authorities have assured that a thorough investigation will be conducted to ascertain the cause of the fire and prevent such incidents in the future. No injuries were reported, thanks to the timely evacuation.
