A shocking and dramatic incident took place today inside the Mumbai Coastal Road tunnel, a key project aimed at making travel faster and smoother for Mumbaikars. A car travelling through the tunnel suddenly caught fire. Within moments, the blaze intensified, filling the entire tunnel with thick black smoke. The incident brought traffic on the Coastal Road to a complete halt and triggered panic among commuters.
As the fire spread inside the enclosed tunnel, toxic smoke quickly filled the area, severely reducing visibility. Several motorists reportedly faced difficulty breathing. Realising the situation was worsening, many commuters abandoned their vehicles inside the tunnel and ran towards the exit on foot to save themselves. Videos of the incident have gone viral on social media, showing dense smoke engulfing the tunnel and the chaotic scenes inside.
Fire brigade launches rescue operation
Following the incident, authorities immediately stopped traffic heading towards the Coastal Road from Nariman Point as a precautionary measure, leading to long traffic queues. Fire brigade personnel and police rushed to the spot soon after receiving the alert. Rescue teams launched an intensive operation to bring the fire under control and safely evacuate people trapped inside the tunnel.
No casualties reported
According to preliminary information, no casualties have been reported in the incident. However, the fire has once again raised serious questions about emergency preparedness, fire safety measures and response systems in one of Mumbai’s most modern and significant infrastructure projects. Authorities are investigating whether the fire was caused by a short circuit or another technical fault.
