Indore house fire caused by EV charging:The electricity company claims overcharged battery exploded like bomb, killing 8 people

An electric vehicle (EV) charging-related fire that killed eight people in Indore is now being attributed to a possible battery explosion during overcharging, according to a preliminary investigation by the power distribution company. While the report has not yet been officially released, initial findings suggest that the fire originated from an EV charging point installed inside the house. Load within limits, overheating unlikely The house had a sanctioned electricity load of 15 kW, while actual usage typically ranged between 2 to 9 kW. Officials believe this makes overheating due to excess load less likely during charging. However, sources allege that senior officials may be attempting to shield subordinate staff from accountability in the incident.
Smart Meter data confirms late-night charging According to officials, smart meter data confirmed that the electric car was being charged at the time of the incident. The company analyzed minute-by-minute data from the past three months to prepare its findings. The report claims that the EV battery exploded “like a bomb” due to overcharging. Auto cut-off failed, charging resumed before blast Investigators found that the car was routinely charged between 11 PM and 3 AM. On the night of the incident, charging followed the same pattern. Officials said that although the system triggered an automatic power cut-off during charging, electricity resumed about 30 minutes later—after which a massive explosion occurred. Power load spiked during charging The report states that when the EV—registered as MP09 DQ 0509—was plugged in, total household load jumped from around 2 kW to nearly 9 kW. Smart meters transmitted consumption data every 15 minutes to the control room, and this was cross-verified using Meter Reader Instrument (MRI) data. Eyewitness claims fire started earlier A resident living opposite the house said he noticed smoke coming from the car’s bonnet between 3:00 and 3:15 AM when he woke up. He alerted neighbors and called the fire brigade. While locals gathered within 15–20 minutes, fire services reportedly took nearly an hour to arrive. Contradictions between report and witness account The eyewitness timeline conflicts with the power company’s report, which claims that power resumed at around 3:30 AM and the explosion occurred shortly after. Eight killed, including pregnant woman The fire broke out in the early hours of Wednesday when a Tata Punch EV caught fire during charging, engulfing a three-storey house near Bengali Square in Greater Brijeshwari Colony. Among the deceased were businessman Manoj Pugalia, his pregnant daughter-in-law Simran, and six relatives who had recently arrived from Kishanganj, Bihar. Four others were injured. Gas cylinders exploded, house partially collapsed Police said the fire spread rapidly and reached gas cylinders stored inside the house, triggering multiple explosions. The blast was so intense that part of the building collapsed. Digital locks installed in the house reportedly failed to open, preventing occupants from escaping in time. Investigation ongoing Authorities continue to examine the exact sequence of events, especially the discrepancies between technical data and eyewitness accounts, as well as possible lapses in emergency response.