Panic gripped commuters on the Mumbai Metro Red Line after thick smoke entered a metro coach at Devipada station in Borivali on Tuesday. The smoke, which caused passengers to cough and cover their faces, originated from a private bus fire on the Western Express Highway, right below the metro line.
A viral 50-second video posted by user Yogesh Namjoshi on social media shows dense smoke engulfing the coach as people struggle to breathe, using handkerchiefs and masks to filter the air. Visibility was severely impacted, adding to the distress.
According to reports, the bus was unoccupied when it suddenly caught fire near the station. Firefighters and metro staff responded swiftly and extinguished the blaze, with no injuries reported.
The incident occurred just as a metro halted at Devipada, allowing smoke to seep into the coach when its doors opened.
Responding to the incident, Maha Mumbai Metro Operation Corporation Ltd expressed regret and clarified:
“There was no fire or danger inside the train. Smoke entered due to the station’s open structure. The situation was controlled at the next stop, and services continued smoothly.”
Commuters and social media users questioned why the train stopped despite the fire below. The event has sparked calls for reviewing emergency response protocols in metro operations.