Six Indore families narrowly escape Delhi fate after EV showroom fire

Indore: Two days after a massive fire ripped through a bread-and-breakfast hotel in South Delhi, killing 21 guests, mostly foreigners, 20 members of six families narrowly escaped a similar fate in Indore after a fire broke out at an electric vehicle (EV) showroom on the ground floor of their apartment building in Lasudia on Friday morning.

Trapped on the upper floors as flames and thick smoke blocked the staircase, they were rescued through an improvised escape route created with ladders and ropes by residents of a neighbouring building, along with police and fire brigade personnel.

Lasudia police station in-charge Rajkumar Yadav said the fire broke out near Khalsa Chowk around 7 am and is suspected to have been triggered by a short circuit.

According to officials, the blaze erupted inside the electric two-wheeler showroom on the ground floor, while families residing in the upper floors were asleep. Residents woke up after thick black smoke filled the building, causing breathing difficulties.

Flames rapidly engulfed the ground-floor showroom, while thick smoke spread through the building, cutting off access to the staircase used by residents living above.

According to officials, most occupants were jolted from their sleep after smoke entered their flats. As they looked outside, they were terrified to find flames rising from the showroom below.

Hearing desperate cries for help, residents of a neighbouring multi-storey building rushed in to assist distressed residents, arranging

ladders and ropes and guiding those trapped to the rooftop.

A temporary escape route was created by connecting ladders between the two buildings, allowing several residents to cross safely to the adjacent structure. Others were brought down with the help of ropes.

Soon, firefighters and police joined the rescue operation, safely evacuating all occupants.

No casualties or injuries were reported in the blaze.

Thankfully, the fire did not spread to any of the residential apartments. However, all electric two-wheelers kept inside the showroom were gutted in the blaze.

Fire brigade officer BS Hooda said the blaze was brought under control within an hour using two tankers. The exact cause was yet to be determined, he added.

Residents said they became aware of the fire only after neighbours started shouting and throwing stones at windows to wake those sleeping inside.

Among those rescued were Bhanu Singh and Nisha Singh, natives of Shivpuri who have been living in Indore for the past two-and-a-half years. They said they were asleep when the fire broke out and only woke up after neighbours alerted them by throwing stones at their windows.

Another resident, Chetan, originally from Bengaluru who lives in an apartment on rent and runs a startup, said he also became aware of the blaze after hearing the commotion outside.

Following the rescue, residents temporarily shifted to the homes of friends and relatives while authorities continued to assess the damage caused by the fire.