Ghaziabad Electric Vehicle Fire Escalates, Igniting Air Conditioner in Midnight Scare
A routine overnight charging session turned into a terrifying ordeal for a family in Ghaziabad's Shastri Nagar when their electric car suddenly erupted in flames, with the fire rapidly spreading to a nearby window air-conditioner that subsequently exploded. The dramatic incident occurred late on Monday night, around 11:30 PM, in the C Block area, jolting the residents and their neighbors from sleep as the blaze intensified.
Firefighters Battle Blaze for 45 Minutes as Flames Spread Rapidly
By the time firefighting teams arrived at the scene, the fire had already progressed from the electric vehicle to the window where the air-conditioning unit was installed. Officials reported that it took them nearly forty-five minutes to fully extinguish the flames and secure the area. The swift spread of the fire created a hazardous situation that required immediate and sustained intervention from emergency responders.
Conflicting Accounts Emerge Regarding the Origin of the Fire
The cause of the blaze remains under investigation, with conflicting narratives emerging from officials and the affected family. Chief Fire Officer Rahul Pal suggested that an electrical fault might have been responsible, stating that the MG Windsor car was plugged into the charging point at the time. "We suspect that a short circuit occurred inside the electric socket, which caused sparks to reach the car through the wire charger," he explained, noting that the flames then traveled to the window AC unit. However, he emphasized that the actual cause is still subject to thorough investigation.
In contrast, the car owner's family disputes this account, asserting that the fire originated within the vehicle itself. The Windsor car and the adjacent house belong to Girish Gupta, who operates a business in the industrial area alongside his son, Harshit. Six family members were inside the two-storey building during the incident: Girish, his wife Geeta, son Harshit, daughter-in-law Saloni, son Saharsh, and sister Prachi Garg.
Family Recounts Harrowing Escape from Intensifying Flames
Harshit Gupta provided a detailed account of the family's experience, revealing that his parents were asleep in the front room where the window AC was installed, close to where the car was charging outside. "Suddenly, the window glass shattered from the intense heat of the blaze. Jolted out of sleep, my parents immediately woke up and alerted everyone in the house," he recounted. "We were sleeping on the first floor and managed to come down safely despite the chaos."
Family members attempted to tackle the flames initially, but the fire continued to flare up uncontrollably. Harshit further contested the official theory by pointing to CCTV footage, which he claims shows the fire starting from the car rather than the electric point. "The charging point was three metres away from the car on the wall. The car is only a year old, and we have raised a formal complaint with the manufacturer, MG," he stated, highlighting their concerns about vehicle safety.
Vehicle Taken for Assessment as Manufacturer Remains Silent
Atul Singh, head of sales at an MG showroom in Patel Nagar, confirmed that the vehicle was purchased approximately one year ago and has been taken for a detailed assessment. "We have collected the charred vehicle and sent it for an investigation to determine the exact cause of the fire," he added. Despite requests for comment, MG Motor has not yet responded to inquiries regarding the incident, leaving questions unanswered about potential manufacturing or charging system issues.
This alarming event underscores growing concerns about electric vehicle safety, particularly during charging operations in residential areas. As investigations proceed, both fire officials and the vehicle manufacturer are working to pinpoint the precise sequence of events that led to this dangerous blaze, which could have far-reaching implications for EV safety protocols and consumer confidence in emerging automotive technologies.
