A 55-year-old man died after the battery of his electric scooter exploded while it was being charged inside his house in Narnaul, triggering a massive fire that destroyed a large portion of the dwelling, officials said on Tuesday.
Explosion triggers major fire
The incident occurred around 9.30 pm on Monday at Ramnagar Colony, where the victim, Shiv Kumar, lived in a self-constructed house. Police said the electric scooter was charging inside the house when its battery suddenly exploded with a loud sound, sparking a fire that spread rapidly across the room.
At the time of the incident, Shiv Kumar was sleeping alone in one room, while other family members were in a separate part of the house.
Victim rushed to hospital, declared dead
Neighbours, alerted by the blast, rushed to the spot and informed the police, fire brigade and ambulance services. Firefighters managed to bring the blaze under control after nearly 30 minutes.
Shiv Kumar was pulled out of the room in a critical condition and shifted to the civil hospital, where doctors declared him dead.
Extensive damage to house
The fire gutted a significant portion of the house, destroying furniture, doors, windows, beds, sofas and other household belongings. Police said the scooter had been purchased about a year ago from a showroom in Naseebpur and was regularly charged at night.
Preliminary information suggests it was a low-speed electric scooter with a top speed of 25 kmph, which does not require registration or a driving licence.
Probe underway
Police have launched an investigation to ascertain the exact cause of the battery explosion. Officials said technical experts may be consulted to determine whether the blast was caused by a battery defect, charging practices or electrical faults.
The incident has once again raised concerns over the safety of charging electric vehicles indoors.
(About Electric vehicle safety)