BEST Orders 2-Foot Gap Between Buses After Fire Destroys 12 Vehicles

The BEST Undertaking has made it mandatory for buses to be parked with a minimum gap of two feet at its depots, following a fire at the Anik depot on October 4 that destroyed 12 CNG buses, including seven newly added vehicles. Wet-lease operators have also been instructed to park buses facing the exit for quick emergency evacuation.

The fire broke out at 5:45 pm and was controlled by 7:15 pm. Officials noted that buses were previously parked 1.5 to 2 feet apart, enabling rapid flame spread. Over 40 buses were in the vicinity. Response was delayed because buses use conventional keys instead of push-button systems, hampering vehicle movement.

The exact cause remains under investigation, with officials examining possibilities including smoking near parked buses, discarded cigarette butts, and combustible materials like empty cartons and paper stacks found nearby. BEST has also flagged the lack of dedicated firefighting facilities at depots, with the committee chairperson requesting BMC assistance to provide fire extinguishing vehicles round-the-clock.