MUMBAI: A fire that started at an electric scooter showroom in India killed at least eight people and injured 11, police said in what is deadliest such incident involving electric vehicles in country. Early investigations have identified faulty battery cells and battery modules among main causes. Latest fire broke out in a hotel basement housing showroom with some two dozen electric scooters in southern city of Secunderabad, police said.

It had been brought under control and an investigation had been launched, they said. Most of dead were occupants of hotel, which was engulfed by smoke. “There were electric scooters parked where fire started,” city police official Chandana Deepti told Reuters. “We don’t know if it started because of overcharging and then spread or whether it started elsewhere. That is still being established.” Identity of dealer and make of scooters being sold was not immediately clear.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was saddened by deaths and promised compensation for casualties in fire. India wants e-scooters and e-bikes to make up 80 percent of total two-wheeler sales by 2030, from about 2 percent now.–Agencies

Published in The Daily National Courier, September, 14 2022

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