A firefighter at the scene of a deadly pre-dawn house fire in Indore's Brijeshwari Annexe area recounted narrowly escaping death amid multiple LPG cylinder blasts that claimed seven lives on March 18, 2026. The blaze erupted around 4 AM in a three-storey building owned by polymer trader Manoj Pugalia, triggered by a suspected short-circuit while charging an electric vehicle outside. Rapidly spreading flames engulfed the structure after investigators discovered 8-10 LPG cylinders stored inside, with at least two exploding violently closely missing 2 firefighers. Fire tenders battled the fire for hours, deploying over 1.7 lakh litres of water to contain it.

Among the deceased were Vijay Sethia (65), Chhotu Sethia (22), Suman Sethia (60), Manoj Pugalia (65), Tanay Sethia (8), Rashi Sethia (12), and Tinu Sethia (35), all succumbing to severe burns and smoke inhalation. Three others sustained critical injuries. Electronic locks on doors reportedly malfunctioned during a power cut, trapping occupants inside as explosions rocked the building between 4-4:30 AM.

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Police Commissioner Santosh Kumar Singh confirmed forensic teams are probing the EV charging point explosion as the ignition source, with additional cylinders—including commercial ones—seized for analysis. The presence of highly flammable plastic stock likely accelerated the fire's spread, preventing escape from upper floors.

Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya, Mayor Pushyamitra Bhargav, Collector Shivam Verma, and top officials rushed to the site, closing roads amid panic. Firefighters described witnessing 2-3 blasts firsthand, crediting quick containment efforts for averting spread to neighboring homes.

This tragedy underscores risks of storing multiple gas cylinders in residences alongside EV charging setups. Authorities have launched inquiries into illegal storage practices, urging stricter safety norms as Indore mourns the preventable loss of an entire family.

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