Car Fire in Mumbai's Coastal Road Tunnel: Automated Systems and Quick Response Avert Tragedy
On Wednesday afternoon, a Maruti Ignis carrying four family members caught fire inside India's first undersea road tunnel on Mumbai's Coastal Road. The incident, which occurred around 12:25 pm, led to a swift emergency response and temporary closure of the southbound lane. No injuries were reported.
The family, travelling from Thane to Churchgate, was alerted by a passing motorist who noticed something falling from their vehicle. As soon as they stopped, smoke emerged from the engine compartment. The four occupants, including 60-year-old Sudhir Nair and his elderly mother, evacuated safely.
'We are safe because of the helping nature of Mumbai's citizens. Almost everyone stopped their vehicles and rushed to help us,' Nair recounted. Strangers were among the first to respond, and police arrived within about 10 minutes.
The tunnel's linear heat detection system automatically detected the fire and alerted the Coastal Road control room. The Mumbai Fire Brigade dispatched a quick response vehicle; the fire was extinguished by 12:44 pm. The vehicle was completely gutted.
The southbound lane remained closed while firefighters ventilated the tunnel using the Saccardo ventilation system, designed to manage smoke in tunnel emergencies. The cause of the fire is yet to be established.
