A fire erupted at the under-construction BKC Metro station in Mumbai on Friday afternoon, briefly halting metro services. The blaze was quickly contained, and no injuries were reported. The fire, which occurred around 1 p.m., was likely caused by welding sparks igniting wooden construction material near the under-construction entry/exit gate A4 at a depth of 40-50 feet.
The incident caused significant smoke accumulation, which spread throughout the underground platform, including the concourse and ticketing areas. As a precaution, Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRCL) suspended metro operations at BKC station for approximately 1.5 hours. Passengers and staff were evacuated due to the smoke, but metro services continued normally on the rest of the section between Aarey JVLR and Bandra Colony.
Eight fire tenders were deployed to control the blaze. Fire brigade officers worked from both above and below ground, using a 46-meter-tall ladder and cranes to access the fire. The fire was successfully brought under control by 3:11 p.m., and operations resumed afterward.
The fire was confined to construction materials such as wooden sheets and furniture. According to Mahendra Mithbaonkar, divisional fire officer in charge, “Welding sparks likely landed on the wooden material, causing the fire.” Thankfully, no injuries or casualties were reported.
This fire incident follows a series of challenges faced by the Metro 3 (Aqua Line) since it opened to the public in October. Just a week earlier, technical issues had caused delays, with metro trains getting stuck underground due to a malfunctioning door closure system. In addition, heavy rain in October led to significant waterlogging and leakage at the Kalina metro station.
Despite these challenges, the quick response to the fire ensured minimal disruption, and Metro services are expected to continue as usual. Authorities have reassured the public that safety measures remain a top priority.
Sources By Agencies
