MUMBAI: Panic gripped motorists on Wednesday afternoon after a car caught fire inside the northbound tunnel of the Mumbai Coastal Road, forcing authorities to temporarily shut the tunnel and triggering a major traffic jam along the Breach Candy stretch.The blaze, reported around 12.25 pm in the tunnel carrying traffic from Marine Drive to Worli, was attended to by the Mumbai Fire Brigade, police and ambulance services. Officials later said the fire had been extinguished and traffic was gradually restored.The temporary closure of the tunnel led to tailbacks on the Coastal Road and adjoining roads near Breach Candy.“It was a complete traffic jam for a brief period. I saw fire engines rushing into the tunnel. However, within less than an hour, the stretch was reopened,” said Kavita Chawla, a Breach Candy resident.For commuters inside the tunnel, the incident was far more alarming.Viren Shah, a Worli resident, said he was driving from NSCI, Worli, towards Marine Drive when he suddenly noticed flames ahead. “Within seconds, traffic came to a complete standstill. I saw people abandoning their cars and running back towards the Worli side of the tunnel. There were screams, panic and complete chaos,” he said.Shah said he too left his car and ran nearly a kilometre before reaching an emergency exit. “The entire experience felt like a scene straight out of a Hollywood disaster movie. Watching flames ahead and hundreds of people trying to escape is something I will never forget,” he said.He said the incident highlighted the need for greater public awareness about tunnel safety. “Do motorists know where the nearest emergency exit is? Are the exits clearly marked? What is the safest way to escape smoke? Preparedness can save lives,” Shah said, urging authorities to strengthen emergency signage and conduct public awareness campaigns.Joint commissioner of police (Traffic) Satya Narayan Chaudhary said the fire was brought under control and traffic on the northbound carriageway was restored shortly afterwards. He added that one lane of the southbound tunnel was also reopened, and normal traffic movement was expected to resume soon.There were no reports of any injuries or casualties in the incident. The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained.
