Indore. In a tragic accident that took place at around 4 am on Wednesday in a colony located near the local Bengali Square, 7 people were burnt alive, while 3 people were seriously burnt. The accident occurred when an electric car parked outside a house was on charging. According to initial information and eyewitnesses, a short circuit occurred during charging, due to which the car suddenly caught fire. The fire spread rapidly and reached inside the house, where a large number of gas cylinders were kept.
This house belonged to local businessman Manoj Pugalia, who was involved in the polymer trade. By the time fire tenders arrived at the scene, the fire had already engulfed the entire house. After a strenuous effort, the rescue team managed to safely extract three individuals; however, the others could not be saved.
Furthermore, flammable chemicals associated with Manoj Pugalia’s polymer business were also stored within the house, which served to fuel the fire. Another major technical flaw that came to light was the presence of electronic locks on the doors; As soon as the fire broke out, the power supply was cut off, causing these locks to jam and leaving those trapped inside with no means of escape.
As the fire spread, chaos gripped the house. Reportedly, there were approximately 15 gas cylinders stored in the house, four of which exploded one after another. The explosions were so powerful that panic spread throughout the area. The force of the blasts caused a portion of the house to collapse, preventing those sleeping inside from escaping. The accident was so sudden and horrific that the situation spiraled out of control before anyone could comprehend it.
The Pugalia family was hosting a family function in the house, and many relatives were also staying there. Consequently, the large number of people inside the house resulted in significant loss of life and property.
Vijay Sethia (65), Chhotu Sethia (22), Suman (60), Manoj (65), Simran (30), and Rashi Sethia (12) died in the incident. Saurabh Pugalia (30), Ashish (30), and Harshit Pugalia (25) were also seriously injured.
Police stated that the injured have been hospitalized. Those in hospital are in critical condition. Local residents alerted the police. Police and administrative teams arrived at the scene and, in collaboration with local residents, began rescue and relief operations. Fire engines were called in to control the fire. Police have launched an investigation into the incident. Efforts are underway to determine how the short circuit occurred and where the safety lapses occurred.
According to Indore Police Commissioner Santosh Kumar Singh, an electric car belonging to the city’s Pugalia family had been left charging overnight outside their residence.
He stated, “Preliminary investigations suggest that a short circuit occurred at the charging point around 4:00 AM, igniting the car. Within minutes, the fire spread into the house, where a large number of gas cylinders were stored.”
Singh added, “It is suspected that the electronic door-lock system may have activated following a power outage caused by the explosions, making it even more difficult for the occupants to escape.”
