Indore blaze mystery deepens after six days:Authorities await combined report, company claims fire erupted but exact cause still remains unclear

Nearly a week after the devastating fire in Tilak Nagar, Indore, one crucial question remains unanswered—what caused the blaze in Manoj Pugalia’s three-storey house? Police, electricity department officials, and forensic experts are investigating, but no conclusive cause has emerged yet. Conflicting theories and contradictory statements from family members have further complicated the case. Authorities are now awaiting a combined report from the fire brigade, power company, and forensic teams to determine the exact cause. To find out the truth, the police are awaiting a combined report from the fire brigade, electricity company, and forensic experts. Read the full report… One incident, two theories Theory 1: Fire triggered during EV charging Initially, investigators suspected that the fire began due to a short circuit while charging an electric vehicle (EV). Police Commissioner Santosh Singh had stated that the blaze started from a short circuit in a Tata Punch EV parked outside the house. The spark reportedly spread to the electric board, meter, and main cable, eventually reaching the nearby power pole. Harshit, the younger son of Manoj Pugalia and a survivor, supported this version. He said he had plugged in the car for charging at night. “At around 4 AM, my father woke me up. As I moved forward, I fainted due to smoke. I regained consciousness in an ambulance,” he recalled. He added that the fire spread so rapidly that no one could escape in time. However, two days later, the elder son Saurabh rejected this claim. During a visit by Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav, Saurabh stated that the EV was not the cause of the fire. He alleged that the electric pole near their house often emitted sparks, and complaints had been made earlier without action. According to the family, a spark from the pole first ignited the car and then escalated into a massive fire. The conflicting statements of the two brothers have added to the confusion. Theory 2: Short circuit in power pole The second theory contradicts the first. Family members claim the fire originated from the nearby power pole. However, the West Zone Electricity Distribution Company has dismissed this possibility. Officials said the house had a smart meter, which records minute-by-minute electricity data. Based on this data, the company claims: This suggests a technical fault but does not conclusively establish the origin of the fire. A house of tragedy: Floor-wise horror Ground floor: A door turned furnace The house owner Manoj Pugalia and his wife were sleeping on the ground floor. When they sensed the fire, they rushed to the main door—but it had turned into a furnace due to intense heat. The metal expanded, causing the lock to jam from inside. Despite desperate attempts, they could not open it. Later, Manoj, Vijay Sethia, and Karthik were found dead near the door. Manoj’s wife managed to escape from the upper floor. First floor: Balcony becomes lifeline On this floor, Saurabh, Saumil, Harshit, and their mother Sunita survived thanks to a balcony attached to their room. As smoke began to fill the space, they called for help from neighbors and were rescued in time. However, others on the same floor—Suman Khare, Ruchika, Rashi, and Tanay—were trapped in smoke and flames. Second floor: Smoke turns fatal The most tragic scene was on the second floor. The staircase acted like a chimney, channeling toxic smoke upwards. Simran and Manoj Pugalia were found dead here. They had no chance to escape. Simran’s body was found near the door, suggesting she tried to flee until her last breath. Investigation challenges and Key evidence According to Tilak Nagar police station in-charge Manish Lodha, the investigation is being conducted from all possible angles. Awaiting the final answer Despite multiple leads and technical analysis, the exact cause of the fire remains unclear. The final conclusion now depends on the combined report of the fire department, electricity company, and forensic experts—expected to determine whether the tragedy was triggered by EV charging or a fault in the power infrastructure.