We have seen multiple cases in the past where electric two-wheeler owners have taken their EVs inside their homes and plugged them in for overnight charging. This is a common practice among buyers living in high-rise buildings. However, it is an extremely dangerous thing to do, and the latest example highlighting the risks comes from Noida, Uttar Pradesh, where almost 50 families had to be evacuated after an electric two-wheeler caught fire inside a residential building while being charged.
The incident was reported from Sector 66 in Noida. According to reports and videos that have surfaced online, a fire broke out in a residential building in the Mamoora area of Sector 66. The fire started on the first floor of the building.
According to initial reports, an electric scooter was plugged in for charging when it caught fire, allegedly due to a short circuit. It is still not clear whether the fire originated in the scooter itself or in the charging cable being used to charge it. The fire spread rapidly, and thick smoke soon rose to the upper floors.
The DCP of Central Noida said that other vehicles parked next to the scooter also caught fire. Several families were living in apartments on the upper floors, and the smoke quickly began entering their homes.
Locals alerted the police and the fire department, who reached the spot in time. Fire and rescue teams, along with multiple fire tenders, arrived at the scene and launched a rescue operation. More than 100 people, or around 50 families, were safely evacuated. Sadly, two people lost their lives in the incident. The owner of the building, along with the leaseholder, has been taken into custody.
Rajeev Narain, Joint Commissioner of Police, Gautam Buddha Nagar, said: “The two individuals whose condition deteriorated due to the fumes were immediately shifted by ambulance to the district hospital. We will provide updates on their condition. They have already been taken to the hospital. Each floor accommodates about five families, with around 12 rooms configured as two-room flats. Rescue operations were conducted continuously to evacuate all the occupants safely.”
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath took cognisance of the incident and instructed the administration to ensure proper medical treatment for the injured, maintain vigilance at all levels, and continuously monitor the rescue and relief efforts. Authorities have also launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the fire.
Electric scooters catching fire is not a new phenomenon in India. In this particular case, there is currently no clarity on where the fire actually started. In most cases, manufacturers carry out extensive testing of battery packs to ensure they are durable and safe for everyday use.
However, there have been several instances where a short circuit in an electric vehicle has resulted in a major fire, often leading to thermal runaway of the battery pack. The thick black smoke generated during EV battery fires is extremely hazardous and can quickly cause suffocation in enclosed spaces.
For this reason, it is generally recommended to charge electric vehicles in well-ventilated, open areas using approved charging equipment. In this incident, the ground floor of the building was used for parking, while the upper floors were residential. When the fire broke out, the smoke rapidly spread through the building, making evacuation difficult. Many residential buildings of this type also lack dedicated emergency exits, which can further complicate rescue operations during such incidents.
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