Two residents died Wednesday after a fire broke out in the ground-floor parking area of a residential building in Noida [1].
The incident highlights the growing safety concerns surrounding electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure in high-density residential complexes. As EV adoption increases in India, the risk of lithium-ion battery fires in enclosed spaces presents a critical challenge for urban fire safety and building codes.
The blaze occurred in Mamura village, located in Sector 66 of Noida, Uttar Pradesh [2]. According to reports, the fire was sparked by an electric bike that was being charged at the time [1]. Other reports said a short circuit in an EV battery likely triggered the incident [3].
Fire department teams and police responded to the scene to combat the flames and manage the evacuation. Emergency responders rescued more than 100 people from the building [3]. Approximately 50 families were evacuated from the premises as smoke and fire spread through the structure [1].
The fire originated in the parking area, which often lacks the specialized ventilation and suppression systems required for chemical fires. Because EV fires can be difficult to extinguish and may reignite, the rapid spread of the blaze created a high-risk environment for the residents trapped in the upper floors [1].
Local authorities have not yet released the identities of the two deceased residents. Police and fire officials said they are continuing to investigate the specific failure of the charging equipment to determine if the spark was caused by a faulty charger or a defect in the vehicle's battery [3].
“Two residents died Wednesday after a fire broke out in the ground-floor parking area”
This incident underscores the volatility of lithium-ion batteries when charging in residential areas without dedicated fire-safety protocols. The transition to electric mobility in India is outpacing the update of building safety regulations, particularly in older or unplanned residential sectors like Mamura village, where narrow access and lack of specialized extinguishers can turn a localized battery spark into a mass-evacuation event.
