A 26-year-old accountant, Priya, tragically lost her life in a devastating fire at an electric vehicle showroom in North Bengaluru on Tuesday. A resident of Okalipuram, Priya had been employed at My EV Store for three years. When the fire erupted, she sought refuge in a small cabin, but the smoke and flames left no escape, police revealed.
Fire and emergency services were alerted to the blaze near Navrang Bar Junction on Dr. Raj Kumar Road at 5:36 PM. Three fire tenders were dispatched within a minute, battling the flames for over an hour. By 6:40 PM, the fire was extinguished, and Priya’s body was found among the debris.
Preliminary investigations suggest a short circuit sparked the inferno. Batteries stored in the building reportedly exploded, rapidly spreading the flames and filling the premises with smoke. Six other staff members managed to escape, although one suffered minor burns, and several experienced breathing difficulties due to the thick smoke.
The showroom housed over 20 electric vehicles, all of which were destroyed in the fire. Fire officials noted the absence of safety equipment, including fire extinguishers, raising concerns about compliance with safety regulations. A case of negligence has been filed, and police are investigating.
Priya’s grieving father, Arumugam, shared that she had just celebrated her birthday that morning before leaving for work. “I can’t believe this happened. She was supposed to come home by 7 PM,” he said.
Read also