(FiveNation.com)- A sudden explosion and fire in an electric scooter showroom in a hotel Mumbai, India killed 8 people and injured 11 more, according to Western Journal. The government is alarmed after the deadliest incident so far follows a rise in similar fires have occurred in the past year.
A video allegedly capturing the incident was uploaded to Twitter by Rishika Sadam, special correspondent for ThePrint.
#Telangana– CCTV visual of #Secunderabad e-bikes showroom fire accident that killed 8 people, left 10 injured. From the video, it appears that there was an explosion, and then the fire spreads to other floors. Cops suspect an e-bike or generator explosion. #Hyderabad pic.twitter.com/Uoxn1YMvfC
— Rishika Sadam (@RishikaSadam) September 13, 2022
The fire reportedly started in a hotel basement which housed about 24 electric scooters in Secunderabad. Police said that the fire was brought under control and an investigation is underway. Most of the casualties of the fire were hotel guests, primarily on the first and second floors.
“We don’t know if it started because of overcharging and then spread or whether it started elsewhere. That is still being established,” city police official Chandana Deepti told the international news service.
“Those staying on the first and second floors were overpowered by smoke and the maximum casualties are from those floors,” C.V. Anand, the police chief of nearby Hyderabad said.
There have been earlier investigations from similar recent fires that have showed “faulty battery cells and battery modules among the main causes.”
The incident is a cause for concern of the country and the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted about compensation for the victims. “Saddened by the loss of lives due to a fire in Secunderabad, Telangana. Condolences to the bereaved families. May the injured recover soon,” he wrote.
Saddened by the loss of lives due to a fire in Secunderabad, Telangana. Condolences to the bereaved families. May the injured recover soon. Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF would be paid to the next of kin of each deceased. Rs. 50,000 would be paid to the injured: PM @narendramodi
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) September 13, 2022
Videos dating back from December 2021 shows the problem persisted. One video showed a SaharaEVOLs-made electric scooter that caught fire in Andheri, Mumbai.
Amid the recent fires, the Indian government has pushed a California-like plan for e-scooters and e-bikes to make up 80 percent of all two-wheeled vehicle sales by 2030.
