A massive fire engulfed an electric vehicle (EV) showroom on Bengaluru's Rajkumar Road on Tuesday evening, claiming the life of a 20-year-old woman. The blaze broke out around 5:30 pm at the MY EV store near Navarang Bar Junction under the jurisdiction of the Rajarajeshwari Nagar police station.
Priya (20) worked as a cashier at the showroom for the past three years. The young woman, a resident of Ramachandrapura, was set to celebrate her 21st birthday on November 20, reported The New Indian Express .
On Tuesday, she was trapped inside a cabin when the fire erupted. Officials suspect the blaze was triggered by a battery explosion while charging an EV scooter.
Another report suggested that short circuit was suspected as the reason for the fire. A fire department also said that adequate safety measures were not in place at the showroom.
As the fire spread rapidly, other employees managed to escape, but Priya succumbed to smoke inhalation and severe burns. Her body was recovered from the debris after the fire was brought under control and has been sent for a post-mortem examination, as per a report on The News Minute.
Senior fire and emergency officers reported that approximately 45 electric scooters were destroyed in the fire. Five fire tenders, including an SDRF van, were deployed to douse the flames and prevent further damage.
The Bengaluru City Traffic Police ensured public safety by diverting vehicles away from the area while residents and shop owners in neighbouring buildings were evacuated as a precaution, reported India Today. The area has since been secured, and authorities are conducting an investigation into the cause of the fire.
A police case has been registered, and further inquiries are underway to determine the exact sequence of events that led to the incident.
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