Indore EV Fire: Police Recover Human Remains from House, Family Denies Claim

Seven days after a devastating fire at a residential villa in Indore claimed eight lives, police on Tuesday confirmed the recovery of human remains from the debris of the house. The discovery has added a new layer of complexity to the ongoing investigation into the March 18 blaze, even as the family strongly disputed the police version.

Remains Found During Handover

Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone-2) Amarendra Singh said the skeletal remains were recovered on Tuesday while handing over the property to the family in the presence of officials. A foul smell alerted those present as belongings were being removed from the house in Brijeshwari Annexe locality of Tilak Nagar.

The remains were later buried at the Tilak Nagar cremation ground. Police suspect they could belong to six-year-old Tanay, whose leg was the only part recovered immediately after the fire. Officials indicated that DNA testing may be conducted if needed to establish identity.

Initial Recovery Mistaken for Child's Body

On the day of the incident, what was initially thought to be the body of a child turned out to be sofa foam, according to the postmortem report from Maharaja Yeshwantrao Hospital. Doctors confirmed that none of the victims died from electrocution; all succumbed to suffocation due to smoke inhalation and severe burn injuries.

Two victims, Vijay Sethia and Ruchika, died primarily from suffocation, with carbon monoxide traces found in their bodies, suggesting they inhaled smoke while asleep.

Family Disputes Police Account

Saurabh Pugalia, elder son of deceased businessman Manoj Pugalia, has rejected the police claim outright. He maintained that no human remains were found inside the house and questioned several aspects of the investigation.

Saurabh has given conflicting statements since the tragedy. He initially asserted that the electric vehicle was not on charge that night, contradicting the electricity department's report which pointed to a short circuit after power resumed following an automatic cut.

Deadly Blaze Kills Eight

The fire broke out around 3:30-4:00 am on March 18 at Arham Villa. It killed eight people, including Manoj Pugalia, his daughter-in-law Simran, and six relatives who had come from Kishanganj in Bihar. Four others, including Saurabh, sustained injuries but survived.

Manoj Pugalia reportedly rescued his sons Saurabh, Saumil, Harshit and wife Sunita before going back inside to save others. He and Simran were later found near the terrace gate in severely burnt condition. Three of the four female victims were charred beyond recognition, making identification difficult. None of the women were pregnant, as confirmed by medical examination.

Illegal Gas Cylinders Raise Safety Concerns

More than 12 gas cylinders—eight domestic and four commercial—were recovered from the house, two of which had exploded. Storing beyond 100 kg of gas without authorisation violates rules, triggering serious questions about residential safety norms.

The Food and Civil Supplies Department has announced a departmental inquiry into the illegal storage. Food Officer Mohanlal Maru said action would follow after reviewing the police report.

Postmortem and Rescue Efforts Under Lens

Postmortem reports ruled out electrocution as the direct cause of death. Victims suffered from severe burns and smoke inhalation. Reports also noted that electronic locks on the doors may have delayed rescue operations, though the family denied having such locks.

The tragedy has highlighted risks associated with home EV charging and unregulated storage of flammable materials in densely populated residential areas.

Impact on Public Safety Discourse

The incident has sparked widespread concern over EV safety protocols and illegal cylinder hoarding in urban homes. It comes amid growing adoption of electric vehicles across India, raising questions about charging infrastructure standards in residential zones.

Local residents and safety experts have called for stricter enforcement of fire safety norms and regular inspections. The Madhya Pradesh government had earlier announced a detailed probe and framing of a Standard Operating Procedure for EV charging following the blaze.

What Lies Ahead

Police are now set to record statements from over 20 more witnesses, including family members and neighbours, as the probe widens. The Food Department inquiry into the cylinders is expected to proceed parallelly.

The family has demanded a thorough and transparent investigation, while authorities have assured that all angles, including the exact trigger of the fire and safety violations, will be examined. Further forensic analysis of the remains and site may provide more clarity in the coming days.