EV owners react to tragedy: ‘Following vehicle’s user manual to the letter must’

Indore: The devastating fire in Brijeshwari annexe that claimed eight lives early Wednesday has sent a wave of anxiety through local community, prompting electric vehicle (EV) owners to re-evaluate their own charging habits.While official probe into the Pugalia family tragedy points to a charging point explosion and subsequent blasts, neighbours and fellow EV users are now emphasising the ‘proper use' of technology to prevent future mishaps.Nikhil Joshi, a college student who relies on an electric bike for his daily commute, believes that the infrastructure—not necessarily the vehicle—is often the culprit. "I use a bike with an automatic power-cut feature that stops charging once the battery is full. Still, I am very disciplined about how many hours it stays plugged in," Joshi said.Observing the site of the tragedy, he noted that the electric car involved appeared to be connected to a standard power switch. "If you draw high power from a low-capacity plug, the switch can overheat and catch fire before the battery even reacts. It's about following the user manual to the letter."For Shourya, a young resident of the same locality who also rides an electric scooter, the news hit close to home. He follows a strict charging regimen to maintain battery health and safety. "I've always heard that an EV battery should ideally be maintained between 5% and 90% charge, and I follow that strictly," Shourya said. He recalled a friend's scooter catching fire years ago, which was attributed to leaving the vehicle under the scorching sun for extended periods. "After this incident with Pugalia family, I'm going to be extra cautious. You can't take these things for granted anymore," he said.Despite the panic, some long-term users remain confident about the technology if handled correctly. Rakesh Batham, who lives just metres away from the incident site, owns two e-rickshaws. "I operate one and rent out the other. We charge both at home on a domestic line every day and have never had a single spark or short-circuit issue," Batham said. However, he admitted that the sheer scale of the Brijeshwari annexe fire has forced him to double-check his setup. "We are panicked. Even though we've had no issues, we will now ensure we meet every required safety parameter for charging."The incident has not only affected local sentiment but has also moved the state govt to act. Urban development and housing minister Kailash Vijayvargiya, who visited the spot, said that a committee of experts would investigate the fire. "It's not only very tragic but an alarming incident. Charging of EV car catching fire is a matter of concern. An standard operating procedure (SOP) should be prepared for EV charging," he said.The govt will now frame SOP for EV charging in residential areas to ensure that high-voltage charging points meet specific safety standards.