The Aryavarth Express:
Indore: At least seven people lost their lives after a massive fire broke out in a three-storey residential building in Madhya Pradesh during the early hours of Wednesday, officials said.
According to Santosh Kumar Singh, Commissioner of Police, the incident occurred around 4 a.m. in the Brijeshwari Annexe locality. Firefighters rushed to the scene immediately after receiving the alert and launched a rescue operation.
“The situation was initially very severe, but the fire was eventually brought under control. Three people were rescued, while seven others unfortunately died,” Singh said.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the fire may have been triggered by an explosion at an electric vehicle charging point outside the house. The blaze quickly spread to the building. Officials also noted that the presence of electronic locks may have hampered escape, possibly due to a power failure following the explosion.
The situation worsened as more than 10 gas cylinders stored inside the house caught fire, with several exploding between 4:00 a.m. and 4:30 a.m. Fire personnel accessed the top floor through a neighbouring building to rescue trapped residents.
The house reportedly belonged to Manoj Pugalia, a polymer businessman, and contained inflammable chemicals that may have intensified the fire.
Shivam Verma, District Magistrate of Indore, confirmed that the fire has been brought under control. He added that rescue operations are ongoing and authorities are investigating the exact cause of the incident. Teams are also ensuring no additional residents remain trapped inside the building.
