MUMBAI, INDIA — Commuters on the Mumbai Coastal Road experienced an afternoon of panic on Wednesday, July 15, 2026 after a car suddenly caught fire inside the northbound tunnel, triggering chaotic scenes as hundreds of motorists fled their vehicles to escape the smoke.

The incident, which occurred during the afternoon rush at approximately 12:25 PM, brought traffic along the high-profile expressway to a grinding halt.

Eyewitnesses reported a rapid escalation of tension inside the enclosed underground passage as thick smoke began to billow from a moving vehicle. The fire erupted while the car was inside the northbound tunnel, quickly engulfing the vehicle and filling the subterranean roadway with toxic fumes. This sudden crisis triggered dramatic scenes, with social media videos showing terrified motorists abandoning their cars inside the tunnel to run on foot back toward the Worli entrance.

One commuter, describing the ordeal online, recalled entering the tunnel from Worli only to be met by hundreds of panicked people running in the opposite direction, shouting warnings of "Aage Aag Lagi Hai" (there is a fire ahead).

The Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB) and local rescue teams responded immediately to the emergency. Firefighters rushed into the tunnel to combat the blaze. Fortunately, the firefighting crew managed to bring the flames under control and extinguish the fire shortly after arrival.

"No injuries or casualties have been reported so far," confirmed an emergency official. All occupants of the burning vehicle and surrounding cars were successfully evacuated to safety.

The incident caused immense traffic congestion as police shut down the affected lanes to facilitate the rescue operation, diverting vehicles to alternative city routes.

An official investigation has been launched to determine the precise mechanical or electrical failure that caused the vehicle to ignite. This is the latest vehicle fire to raise safety concerns regarding tunnel ventilation and emergency protocols on Mumbai's newly built Coastal Road.