The Mumbai Fire Brigade has introduced five alternative mobile numbers after recurring technical glitches affected its 101 emergency helpline operated through MTNL, giving residents additional channels to report fires, building collapses, road accidents and other emergencies.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation announced the backup numbers on Wednesday. Citizens can contact the fire brigade on 9076333101, 9076333102, 9076333103, 9076333104 or 9076333105 whenever the main 101 service is unavailable or facing disruption.
The alternative numbers will be used for emergencies including fires, building collapses, vehicle accidents, tree falls, drowning incidents, people trapped by animals or birds and oil spills on roads. The move follows concerns that faults affecting the 101 line, combined with a shortage of manpower to carry out repairs, could make it difficult for residents to reach the fire brigade during time-sensitive incidents.
According to the BMC, the control room previously had no alternative communication channel when the 101 helpline developed problems. The number is also used for other telephone-related operations, which can leave it continuously engaged during a major emergency. The civic body said the additional mobile lines are intended to provide backup access and help prevent delays in receiving calls.
The fire brigade’s main control room at Byculla receives more than 15,000 emergency calls annually. Its responsibilities extend beyond firefighting to a wide range of incidents across Mumbai, including building collapses, road and vehicle accidents, drowning cases in the sea and lakes, fallen trees and oil spills.
The department operates 35 fire stations, 19 mini fire stations and 22 quick response vehicles. It also has six regional command centres located at Byculla, Wadala, Marol, Borivli, Mankhurd and Vikhroli. These facilities support emergency response across different parts of the city, while the Byculla control room remains the main point for receiving calls.
The introduction of backup numbers provides a parallel route for residents while technical issues affecting the 101 service are addressed. The BMC has urged citizens to use the five alternative numbers whenever they need to contact the Mumbai Fire Brigade during an emergency.
