Bengaluru shocker: Man dies after e-scooter battery explodes while charging at home

BENGALURU: A 65-year-old auto driver died after the battery of an electric scooter exploded inside his house in Murphy Town, Ulsoor, early Tuesday morning.

Lourd Nathan was sleeping near the Okinawa electric scooter after plugging it in for charging. The scooter belonged to his elder son, Frank Anthony. Due to health issues, Nathan had stopped driving his autorickshaw and was resting at home, police said.

Probe revealed that Nathan switched on the charger around 11pm. He slept in a small room on the ground floor while Anthony and his wife lived on the first floor.

Victim switched off charger after 3 to 4 hours

Nathan switched off the vehicle charger after threefour hours. Around 3am, the scooter battery allegedly exploded, triggering a fire in the room.

Hearing the explosion, Anthony and his wife rushed downstairs and doused the fire. The fire damaged household items like a sofa, television, and plastic chairs.

Nathan who was seriously injured was rushed to Bowring hospital where he succumbed to his burn injuries, said an investigating officer.

Police have registered it as an unnatural death.