A devastating fire triggered by an explosion at an electric vehicle charging point claimed the lives of seven people in Madhya Pradesh’s Indore in the early hours of Wednesday, officials confirmed.

The tragic incident occurred at a three-storey residential building in Brajeshwari Annex Colony between 3.30 am and 4:30 am.

According to Assistant Commissioner of Police Kundan Mandloi, the blaze began after a suspected explosion at the electric car charging point installed outside the house. The fire quickly spread to the parked vehicle and then engulfed the entire building.

The situation worsened when multiple cooking gas cylinders inside the house exploded, intensifying the fire and making rescue operations extremely challenging. Thick smoke and flames rapidly consumed the structure, trapping several occupants inside.

Officials said nearly 10 people were present in the house at the time of the incident. While seven people tragically lost their lives, three others were rescued from the burning building.

Adding to the difficulty faced by rescue teams, the house was equipped with electronic door locks, which delayed access for firefighters and police personnel attempting to enter and evacuate those trapped inside.

Authorities also reported that a child went missing following the fire, and search operations were underway to locate them.

Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Amarendra Singh confirmed the number of occupants and casualties, stating that emergency teams responded swiftly but were hindered by the rapid escalation of the blaze due to the cylinder explosions.

The victims’ bodies were taken to a government hospital for post-mortem. Dr Arvind Ghanghoria, Dean of Government Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College, confirmed that the bodies of all seven deceased were brought in.

Two individuals rescued from the fire were also admitted to the hospital. However, after receiving initial treatment, they chose to seek further care at another medical facility and were discharged.

Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the explosion and assess whether safety protocols were followed at the electric vehicle charging point.

The incident has raised fresh concerns about fire safety measures in residential areas, especially with the increasing adoption of electric vehicles and in-house charging setups.