The recent fire on the Sion-Dharavi Link Road, caused by a truck loaded with gas cylinders, has exposed a glaring safety hazard that the authorities have consistently ignored. Despite repeated complaints about the illegal parking of such trucks in open spaces, the BMC has failed to act, complaints social activists. Local citizens are now pointing fingers at the civic body for gross negligence and dereliction of duty, compounded by the BMC’s apathetic stance ever since the civic elections were stalled.
The Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB) successfully extinguished the fire at 12:44 am on Tuesday. Cooling operations continued late into the night. On Tuesday, civic workers were seen removing the trucks and cleaning the area where the truck carrying gas cylinders had been parked. Senior fire officials were also present at the site to conduct the investigation. “The area is in a densely packed residential neighborhood, so we had to act quickly to prevent any major issues. Fortunately, the fire was brought under control without any casualties. Prima facie, it appears that a leak in the gas cylinder ignited the fire. We are conducting an investigation to determine the exact cause. We have also learned that there are addicts in the area, so we will check if the fire was caused by them or a discarded cigarette butt. Additionally, waste is often dumped here, which could have contributed to the fire. We will investigate all possibilities,” said a senior fire official.
Meanwhile, the illegal parking of trucks carrying gas cylinders has angered residents. “The BMC claims they will stop illegal parking on roads, but it’s just on paper. We have not seen any action. This incident could have turned disastrous if it hadn’t been controlled,” said Ashraf Khan, a local resident. Dr. Jyoti Gaikwad, a local MLA, questioned the traffic police, BMC, and the state government as to why trucks carrying highly combustible cylinders are allowed to park illegally in such a congested area. “Is the safety of citizens not paramount? Why are buses and trucks from outside being allowed to park here unchecked? A full inquiry into this incident and strict action against all officials who failed to prevent illegal parking is needed. This negligence could have cost lives—there must be consequences.”
Advocate Trivankumar Karnani, Founder, Mumbai North Central District Forum (MNCDF), a citizen welfare forum said, “The recent cylinder blast in Dharavi is a tragic yet preventable incident that underscores the persistent negligence plaguing our city. We have repeatedly raised concerns about illegal LPG cylinder operations in multiple areas across Mumbai Metropolitan Region, yet the authorities remain negligent. There appears to be a clear dereliction of duty by the Assistant Municipal Commissioners across Mumbai, compounded by an evasive attitude ever since the civic elections have been stalled. This inaction has endangered countless lives. We demand the immediate suspension of the concerned officials who bear responsibility for this failure, along with urgent action to address these recurring safety violations.
Anil Galgali, another activist, said, “Illegal trucks are parked on the roads in many parts of the city, endangering the lives of local residents. The BMC’s license department should be more alert and take action against such offenders to prevent any mishaps in the future.” A senior official from the BMC clarified that the trucks are not permitted to operate from public spaces. “They have permission to store the cylinders in their godowns, but not on the roads. They can use the space for loading and unloading. Special permission is required to even park these trucks in public areas. If the cylinders are found to be full, the BMC has the authority to confiscate them under the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act of 1888, Section 394.”
Anil Kate, Superintendent of BMC’s License department said, “A team will be sent to check on this matter.”
