The blaze in a high-tech AC double-decker bus at Kurla, which gutted it completely, has baffled officials and raised questions about the city’s green transition of the fleet, as the mystery behind the fire has remained unsolved. Mysterious because the bus had been reported unfit and was stationary in a maintenance bay for days, yet it caught fire, raising questions about the safety of the fleet.

The incident raises questions about thermal runaway risk in stationary EV battery packs, especially during maintenance, and what fire suppression protocols are in place at depots for electric fleets. “This is unusual, and we are investigating the matter. The Switch company team that undertakes maintenance of these buses is also inquiring simultaneously. But since the bus has been gutted completely, it is taking time,” said a senior BEST official.