Seven people lost their lives, and three others sustained critical injuries after a devastating fire broke out in Indore early on Wednesday morning. The blaze erupted in Brijeshwari Colony near Bengali Square, creating panic in the area. According to initial reports, more than ten gas cylinders inside the house caught fire and exploded, intensifying the disaster. The incident occurred around 4 am and quickly escalated into a major tragedy, leaving residents shocked. Emergency services were alerted as the flames spread rapidly, causing extensive damage to the property and endangering several lives within the residential premises.
Police officials stated that the fire is believed to have originated from a short circuit in an electric car that was being charged outside the residence of the Pugaliya family. The vehicle suddenly caught fire, and the flames soon spread to the house. Inside the premises, multiple gas cylinders exploded one after another, triggering powerful blasts that shook the neighbourhood. The explosions caused parts of the structure to collapse, trapping occupants inside. The intensity of the fire increased further due to the presence of combustible materials, making rescue operations extremely difficult for emergency responders.
Commissioner of Police Santosh Kumar Singh confirmed that the house belonged to Manoj Pugaliya, a businessman dealing in polymers. He revealed that flammable chemicals stored inside the house contributed to the rapid spread and severity of the fire. Preliminary findings indicate that the blaze likely began at the electric vehicle charging point before engulfing the car and eventually the entire house. The presence of over ten gas cylinders along with hazardous substances significantly worsened the situation, leading to massive explosions and structural damage that complicated efforts to save those trapped inside.
Authorities also discovered that the house was equipped with electronic door locks, which became a critical factor during the incident. When the electricity supply was disrupted due to the fire, the locks failed to function, preventing occupants from escaping. Rescue teams were forced to break open the doors to gain entry. Fire brigade personnel eventually managed to bring the blaze under control after prolonged efforts. Police have launched a detailed investigation into the cause of the fire. State minister Kailash Vijayvargiya termed the incident tragic and urged the formation of an expert committee to establish strict safety measures.
"This incident is very sad and alarming. The fire was triggered by the charging point of the EV, which is a matter of concern. We have asked the officials to constitute an expert committee to investigate the incident so that a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) can be formed to prevent such incidents in the future," said Kailash Vijayvargiya.