Indore EV Fire Claims 8 Lives: Short Circuit in Electric Car Charging Triggers Deadly Blaze

A quiet morning in Greater Brijeshwari Colony near Bengali Square turned into horror when an Indore EV fire claimed eight lives and left four others battling severe burns. The blaze started around 3:30 am on Wednesday when a short circuit in an electric car parked outside a three-storey house sparked a massive fire that quickly spread inside.

Rubber trader Manoj Pugalia’s home became a death trap within minutes. The fire reached LPG cylinders stored inside, causing one explosion after another. A sudden power cut jammed the electronic door locks, leaving people trapped with no escape route. Neighbours and a passer-by on morning walk raised the alarm, but by then eight were already inside the burning house.

Victims and Injured in Indore EV Fire

The dead include Manoj Pugalia’s daughter-in-law Simran (30) and seven relatives who had arrived from Kishanganj, Bihar, just a day earlier. Among them were Vijay Sethia (65), who had come to Indore for jaw cancer treatment, his wife Suman (60), son Chhotu (22), daughter-in-law Rashi (12), and others: Manoj Jain (60), Tinu (35) and Tanay (8).

Four survivors – Saurabh Pugalia (30), Sunita, Ashish (30) and Harshit Pugalia (25) – suffered serious burns and are under treatment at MGM Medical College. Post-mortems of seven victims are complete; two have been discharged.

How the Indore EV Fire Spread So Fast

Police Commissioner Santosh Kumar Singh said the house belonged to polymer businessman Manoj Pugalia and contained flammable chemicals that acted as fuel. Nine gas cylinders were inside. The short circuit at the EV charging point outside the house ignited the car, flames entered the home, and repeated cylinder blasts caused part of the building to collapse.

Manoj’s eldest son, who was outside during the fire, told reporters: “My sister, maternal uncle’s daughter, her two children, and my younger maternal uncle’s son arrived just yesterday. This incident happened the very next morning.”

Officials React and Raise Safety Concerns

Madhya Pradesh ministers rushed to the spot. Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya called it an “alarming situation in the era of EVs” and announced an expert committee will investigate. He also noted the fire brigade reached 30 minutes late. Minister Tulsi Silawat took stock of the situation on ground.

This is not the first such tragedy in Indore. Last year, on October 23, 2025, Congress leader Pravesh Agrawal died in a similar fire when digital locks malfunctioned during a blaze started in his home temple.

Urgent Lessons from Indore EV Fire

Experts and police are now urging EV owners to:

- Charge vehicles only in open, well-ventilated areas away from homes

- Avoid storing LPG cylinders near charging points

- Install manual override systems for electronic locks

- Keep fire extinguishers and smoke alarms updated

The Indore EV fire has once again highlighted growing risks as electric vehicles become common across India. While EVs promise a greener future, this tragedy shows that safety standards for charging and home storage must catch up fast.

Authorities have launched a full investigation. Families in Kishanganj and Indore are in mourning. As the city counts its losses, the message is clear: one short circuit should never cost eight innocent lives.