Watch: Smoke fills metro coach in Mumbai, but the fire wasn’t on the train– this is what happened

A routine metro ride turned stressful for several commuters on Tuesday afternoon in Mumbai when smoke unexpectedly entered a metro coach at Devipada station. The source of the smoke was a private bus that had caught fire on the road below the elevated station along the Western Express Highway. Although no injuries were reported, the incident briefly caused panic among passengers and has since raised concerns about communication and emergency preparedness.
Bus fire below metro line creates chaos on platform
The incident took place near Borivali’s Devipada Metro Station when a bus, parked on the highway beneath the station, suddenly caught fire. The bus was reportedly empty at the time. As the fire intensified, smoke rose quickly and reached the platform level just as a metro train pulled in.

The train stopped at the station and opened its doors, which allowed smoke to enter one of the coaches, according to eyewitnesses. The fire brigade and metro staff arrived soon after and managed to control the fire without any reported damage or casualties.
Viral video shows passengers caught in smoke
A video recorded by commuter Yogesh Namjoshi captured the tense atmosphere inside the coach filled with smoke. In his post on social media platform X, Namjoshi wrote, “There were no announcements and the smoke inside was getting thicker before the doors finally closed again.”

The video shows several passengers looking around anxiously, confused by the situation and the absence of any immediate clarification from metro authorities.
Maha Mumbai Metro responds to concerns
Responding to the incident, Maha Mumbai Metro Operations issued an official statement later in the day, confirming the sequence of events and acknowledging commuter concerns.

“We regret the inconvenience caused to our valued passengers,” the statement said, while clarifying that the station’s open design allowed smoke from the burning vehicle below to reach the platform.

The agency added, “A private bus on the road below Devipada station caught fire today in the afternoon. Metro staff & fire brigade responded swiftly and brought the situation under control.”

They further stated that while one coach experienced smoke entry, the situation was quickly handled at the next station. “Metro services continued safely and uninterrupted. We thank commuters for their patience and understanding,” the statement concluded.
Metro services continue, no structural damage reported
According to officials, the fire had no impact on metro infrastructure, and there were no signs of mechanical damage. While the exact reason behind the bus fire is yet to be confirmed, initial checks have not suggested any suspicious activity.

Metro services resumed normal operations shortly after, with authorities maintaining that passenger safety remained unaffected throughout the brief disruption.