In a shocking incident, one of the newly inducted advanced vehicles in the Mumbai Police fleet—a Mahindra Scorpio-N—caught fire suddenly in the Sakinaka area of Andheri. The incident caused panic in the vicinity for a brief period. Fortunately, no casualties have been reported.
According to initial information, the police vehicle was passing through Sakinaka when smoke was noticed emanating from it. Within moments, the fire escalated rapidly and engulfed the vehicle. Eyewitnesses stated that the flames reached the fuel pipe, triggering a minor explosion. Despite the intensity of the blaze, alert local residents rushed to the spot and helped control the fire, averting a major mishap. The exact technical cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained.
Notably, just a month ago, on February 26, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had flagged off over 1,200 advanced vehicles for the Mumbai Police from Nariman Point. The fleet included 633 four-wheelers and 657 motorcycles. At the time, it was stated that these new vehicles would enhance police efficiency and strengthen public safety. However, with a brand-new vehicle catching fire within a month of induction, concerns are now being raised regarding the technical safety of these vehicles.
Police have launched a further investigation into the incident.