15 July,2026 03:24 PM IST | Mumbai | Eeshanpriya MS
Fire brigade personnel, police officials and a 108 ambulance were immediately rushed to the spot. Pic/ Screengrab
A moving car caught massive fire inside the Mumbai Coastal Road tunnel on the Haji Ali-Worli carriageway on Wednesday afternoon, triggering panic among motorists.
According to preliminary information, the incident was reported to the Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB) control room at 12.25 pm on July 15. The vehicle caught fire while travelling through the tunnel lane connecting Haji Ali to Worli.
Fire brigade personnel, police officials and a 108 ambulance were immediately rushed to the spot to tackle the situation and ensure commuter safety.
The incident triggered heavy traffic congestion in the area and disrupted vehicular movement on the Mumbai Coastal Road. By 1.30 pm, traffic on both the southbound and northbound carriageways had resumed after the fire was brought under control and the affected vehicle was removed from the tunnel.
According to the Tardeo Traffic Police, the fire involving a vehicle at CP 5 on the southbound Coastal Road was extinguished with the assistance of the Mumbai Fire Brigade. The charred vehicle was later removed from the tunnel with the help of a crane.
"Traffic on both the southbound and northbound carriageways has been reopened, and efforts are underway to restore normal traffic flow," the traffic police said.
People reportedly abandoned their vehicles and ran to safety. The incident has raised serious concerns, with motorists alleging a lack of clear signage inside the tunnel. "It was shocking and scary," commuters said.
"There was a massive fire involving a vehicle inside the tunnel. I could see hundreds of cars stuck. People were leaving their cars and running towards the exit," says Viren Shah, Eyewitness and President of Federation of Retail Traders Welfare Association.
"We could not figure out whether the fire had started inside the vehicle or if an external source had caused it. Our first priority was to save ourselves," he added.
Another eyewitness, posting on X, described the scene as unprecedented. "I've never experienced anything like this before. Just minutes after entering the Coastal Road tunnel from Worli, I saw hundreds of people running towards us," the user wrote.
Authorities had temporarily closed the affected stretch of the Mumbai Coastal Road following the vehicle fire, leading to major traffic disruptions in South Mumbai.
The closure resulted in heavy congestion on several key routes, with commuters travelling through Marine Drive, Nariman Point, Churchgate, Marine Lines, P D'Mello Road, Peddar Road, Haji Ali and Worli facing significant delays.
