Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed deep grief over the loss of eight lives in a tragic fire that occurred in Indore’s Brijeshwari Annex Colony in the early hours of Wednesday, March 18, 2026.
The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) announced a financial aid of ₹2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for the next of kin of each deceased, while those injured will receive ₹50,000. Taking to X, the PMO stated, “Deeply pained by the loss of lives in a fire mishap in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured.”
Incident Overview
The fire is believed to have started around 4:00 AM while an electric vehicle (EV) was being charged outside a three-storey residential building.
- The Cause: Preliminary investigations suggest a short circuit at the EV charging point led to an explosion. The fire quickly spread from the car to the house.
- The Escalation: The situation turned catastrophic as the flames triggered blasts in at least two of the twelve gas cylinders stored inside the building. Flammable chemicals related to the owner’s polymer business further fueled the blaze.
- A “Death Trap”: Survivors and officials noted that electronic digital locks on the doors jammed due to the power failure caused by the fire, trapping residents inside as the building filled with smoke.
- Casualties: Eight family members, including three women and two minor children, were killed. Some of the victims had reportedly arrived from Bihar just a day earlier for a family visit.
Government Response
Madhya Pradesh Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya visited the site and announced that a committee of experts will conduct a detailed probe into the incident. The state government also intends to frame a new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for EV charging in residential areas to prevent such tragedies in the future.