Tragedy revives debate over electronic locks in fire emergencies

Sagar.Choukse@timesofindia.comIndore: As smoke cleared from Brijeshwari Annexe inferno on Wednesday, a familiar and chilling question resurfaced: Did modern security technology turn a home into a deadly trap?The tragedy has reignited the debate over safety of electronic and digital locks during fire emergencies, mirroring a similar fatal incident involving a local businessman and Congress leader just months ago.Initial briefings from senior officials pointed towards a technological failure. "The fire spread from a short circuit at EV charging point. The house was equipped with electronic locks, which reportedly failed to operate after the power snapped," Police Commissioner Santosh Kumar Singh told the media. He noted that the failure of these locks, combined with the explosion of gas cylinders, left the victims with no exit route.However, Soni Mhatre, who has served as Pugalia family's domestic help for 15 years, said that she has seen keys to the locks. "The relatives just arrived yesterday (Tuesday) for treatment. There were no electronic locks in this house; all the doors operate with traditional physical keys," she insisted.DCP Kumar Prateek said that Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) team is currently examining the remains of the door assemblies. "Whether the house had electronic locks or if manual locks became heat-fused is a matter of intensive investigation," he said.This is not the first time digital security has been blamed for a tragedy in Indore. On Oct 23, 2025, a fire broke out at a penthouse of Congress leader Pravesh Agrawal. An 'akhand jyoti' (eternal flame) in the house temple ignited the curtains, and the digital locks reportedly malfunctioned as the fire spread. While Agrawal managed to save his wife and daughter, he died after being trapped inside by the non-responsive security system.The Brijeshwari Annexe fire is the latest in a string of battery-related disasters in the city. In Dec 2025, Pavitra Bai (50) died after an e-rickshaw battery exploded in Scheme Number 54 while she was travelling to an eye hospital with her 85-year-old mother.Investigation into that case revealed the driver had installed an unauthorised extra battery, a common but hazardous practice used to extend vehicle range.