Two persons, including a 17-year-old boy, were killed after a suspected explosion in an e-rickshaw battery triggered a fire at a multi-storey building in west Delhi’s Raghubir Nagar early on Monday, officials said.
Fire reported before dawn; victims declared dead at hospital
The Delhi Fire Services (DFS) received a call at around 4.42 a.m. about the blaze at R-17A, Masjid Gurudwara Road, located within the jurisdiction of Moti Nagar police station, DFS and police officials said. Three water tenders and a water-bowser were rushed to the spot.
According to officials, the fire broke out among domestic articles on the first floor of a building comprising a ground floor and four upper floors. Two people who suffered burn injuries were taken to Guru Gobind Singh Hospital in Raghubir Nagar, where the medical officer on duty declared them brought dead.
The victims have been identified as Sufaid, 17, and Mohd. Samid, 38, officials said. A preliminary probe indicated the blaze followed a suspected blast in an e-rickshaw battery, parked and being charged on the ground floor of the building, they added.
Emergency response and containment
DFS personnel brought the fire under control within about 40 minutes. A station officer issued a "stop" message at approximately 5.25 a.m., indicating the immediate threat had been contained, fire officials said.
- Time of call received: 4.42 a.m.
- Resources dispatched: 3 water tenders and 1 water-bowser
- Fire brought under control: around 5.25 a.m.
- Location: R-17A, Masjid Gurudwara Road, Raghubir Nagar (Moti Nagar police station area)
Police and investigation
Police and fire officials said further investigation is underway to determine the exact circumstances that led to the blast and subsequent fire. Initial accounts from emergency teams suggest the e-rickshaw battery exploded while on charge on the ground floor, and the flames spread to domestic articles stored on the first floor and adjacent areas.
Moti Nagar police officials have registered the incident and were conducting on-site enquiries, including statements from neighbours and occupants, and examining the e-rickshaw and its charging setup. Forensic teams are expected to inspect the battery and wiring to establish a cause, the officials said.
Local impact and safety context
Raghubir Nagar is a densely populated residential neighbourhood in west Delhi where many homes and small businesses share limited common spaces for parking and charging vehicles such as e-rickshaws and scooters. Fires linked to lithium-ion and lead-acid batteries have drawn attention in recent years, prompting calls from resident groups and safety authorities for regulated charging points and fire-safety norms for battery storage.
Residents and local associations often raise concerns about vehicles being charged in corridors, stairwells or ground-floor spaces in multi-storey buildings, where faulty chargers, overloaded sockets or damaged batteries can increase the risk of ignition. Authorities routinely advise keeping charging equipment under supervision, using certified chargers and maintaining safe distances from flammable material.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Call received | 4.42 a.m. |
| Fire control | ~5.25 a.m. |
| Units deployed | 3 water tenders, 1 water-bowser |
| Casualties | 2 dead (Sufaid, 17; Mohd. Samid, 38) |
What residents should know
- Keep charging of e-rickshaws and batteries in well-ventilated, supervised spaces away from flammable materials.
- Use chargers and batteries meeting safety certifications; avoid improvised wiring or overloaded sockets.
- Report illegal or unsafe parking/charging of vehicles in residential buildings to local fire stations or the police.
Authorities have appealed for calm while investigations continue. The police asked anyone with CCTV footage or information about the e-rickshaw’s charging arrangements to come forward to assist the probe.
Further details on the cause of the blast and any action taken by civic or enforcement agencies will be released as the investigation progresses, officials said.
