MUMBAI: At least 10 buses were gutted in a major fire at Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking's Anik bus depot in central Mumbai on Monday evening, though there are no report of injuries to anyone, officials said.
The fire broke out at 5:45 pm in the Anik depot yard and involved some CNG-run buses parked in a row, a BEST spokesperson said.
A civic official said at least four fire engines, five water tankers and other firefighting vehicles were rushed to the spot, and the blaze was brought under control after more than an hour.
Ten air-conditioned 'midi buses' (single decker mini buses) procured for the undertaking's fleet from private operator Daga group were destroyed in the fire, the spokesperson said.
According to BEST officials, the operator has been replacing its old fleet with new buses over the past few months. So far, more than 140 new buses have been added to its fleet, while over 50 more are expected to be inducted.
The 10 buses that were gutted were part of the consignment of new buses, they added.
The cause of the fire is being ascertained, officials said.
Eyewitnesses claimed to have heard blasts at the spot while thick black smoke was visible from a distance. They claimed the explosions were of the CNG tanks of the buses. Some trees at the depot too were singed.