1 killed, 3 injured of a family after e-scooter battery explodes and causes fire

A 60-year-old man suffocated to death and four others from his family sustained injuries (two severely critical) after a fire broke out in their one-room house in Kanhai village in Gurugram Sector 44 on Thursday night after the battery of their electric two-wheeler exploded during charging, said police on Friday

A 60-year-old man suffocated to death and four others from his family sustained injuries (two severely critical) after a fire broke out in their one-room house in Kanhai village in Gurugram Sector 44 on Thursday night after the battery of their electric two-wheeler exploded during charging, said police on Friday.

The family was stuck in their room because of the smoke, and the neighbours had to break a window to rescue them. (Representational Photo)

The victim, Suresh Sahu, was sleeping next to his wife Reena (50), and sons Manoj (25), Saroj (18) and Anuj (14) when the incident took place. The battery of the vehicle exploded inside their room, after which their blankets caught fire, and soon it spread to the entire room. The family was stuck in their room because of the smoke, and the neighbours had to break a window to rescue them.

“We tried to open the door, but it was locked from inside. The room was filled with smoke due to which the Sahu family was stuck inside,” said Ramesh Kumar, a neighbour.

The neighbours broke the window and rescued the family. They also informed the fire brigade and the police and it took around one hour to control the fire. All the victims were referred to Safdarjung Hospital for further treatment.Suresh ran a tea stall at a fuel station in Sector 44, Manoj and Saroj were shop workers, and Anuj a school student.

Kuldeep Dahiya, station house officer (SHO), Sector 40 police station, said that the scooter, which was not even a year old, was parked outside their room and was being charged from inside. “The battery of the electric scooter exploded during charging, and it caused the fire... An investigation is underway, and more details in the case will be collected after the family members get well,” he said.Dr Deepak Mathur, forensic expert, Civil Hospital, said that Sahu suffered 70% burn injuries. “He died on the spot,” the doctor said.