A horrific accident occurred in the early hours of Wednesday in the Tilak Nagar police station limits near Bengali Square, Indore. What was meant to be a celebratory atmosphere in a merchant’s household turned into a scene of mourning when a fire broke out due to an electric car charging malfunction. According to Police Commissioner Santosh Kumar Singh, the fire started after a short circuit at the EV charging point outside the residence of Manoj Pugalia, a local polymer businessman. The flames quickly spread to the three-story building, trapping the residents inside during their sleep.
The intensity of the fire was exacerbated by the presence of over ten gas cylinders and stored polymer chemicals in the house. Several cylinders exploded in a chain reaction, causing a portion of the building to collapse and cutting off the electricity supply. Although some residents managed to flee, others were trapped by the rapidly advancing flames and toxic smoke. Rescue teams had to break down doors to enter the premises, but by then, seven individuals had tragically lost their lives, including children and elderly family members who had gathered for a family celebration.
The deceased have been identified as Vijay Sethia (65), Chotu Sethia (22), Suman (60), Manoj (65), Simran (30), and Rashi Sethia (12). Several others sustained severe injuries and were rushed to a nearby hospital for emergency treatment. Authorities have noted that the death toll may rise as the investigation continues. Local police have registered a case and are conducting a thorough probe into the technical failure of the EV charging system and the safety compliance regarding the storage of industrial chemicals in a residential area.
