A sudden fire broke out outside Mumbai’s Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) metro station on Friday, November 15, creating chaos. The incident occurred around 1:10 pm, when a fire broke out outside Gate A4 of the station. Not only did metro services have to be temporarily stopped, but thick smoke spread all around, creating an atmosphere of panic among the passengers and local residents.
incident details
The fire broke out in the basement of the metro station, where construction materials such as wooden sheets, furniture, and other items were stored. This fire quickly filled the station with smoke. Passengers and metro employees were immediately evacuated from the station. Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRCL) stopped all metro services after this incident.
According to the Mumbai Municipal Corporation, 8 fire engines and other fire fighting equipment were deployed to control the fire. Along with the fire brigade, senior officials of MMRCL and Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) also reached the spot.
rescue and relief operations
The fire department immediately started relief work. After about two hours of hard work, the fire was completely brought under control at 3:11 pm. Metro services were also restored soon after. MMRCL issued a statement saying that this step was taken to ensure the safety of passengers.
Inauguration by Prime Minister and highlights of BKC Metro
It is noteworthy that last month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had inaugurated the BKC metro station. The station is an important transit hub connecting Aarey JVLR and BKC. This station under Metro Line 3 (Callow Brown Line) is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and is playing an important role in reducing the increasing traffic pressure of Mumbai.
Recent events and future challenges
This incident has raised many questions on metro operations and safety measures. Although there were no casualties, it is a big warning that more stringent safety protocols should be implemented to prevent such incidents in future.
Such incidents have happened before
Fire incidents are nothing new in a metropolitan city like Mumbai. Some time ago, a similar incident had happened in a mall in Andheri, where a fire broke out due to short circuit. This not only caused loss of life and property, but business activities also came to a standstill.
Main causes and solutions of fire
According to experts, the possibility of fire increases due to inflammable materials being used in metro projects and negligence. The following steps can be taken for this:
- Regular checking of safety equipment: Fire detection and control systems at all metro stations should be checked from time to time.
- promptness of officials: It is mandatory to deploy special teams for fire brigade and emergency services at every metro station.
- Training and Awareness: Workshops on safety training and fire prevention measures should be organized for metro staff and passengers.
Passengers’ reactions
Passengers present during the incident described it as a frightening experience. Ajay Kumar, a passenger, said, “The smoke was so thick that it became difficult to breathe. Thankfully, the metro staff took us out quickly.”
Responsibility of government and administration
After this incident, Maharashtra government and metro administration need to be more serious towards security. Although the fire was brought under control in time, it is an indication that high standards of safety should be given priority in such projects.
