Three Family Members Killed in Bhubaneswar Apartment Fire, EV Charging Link Probed

A devastating early morning fire at a residential building in Bhubaneswar claimed three lives, including a minor girl, while exposing serious concerns over fire safety compliance and electrical infrastructure in apartment complexes.

The blaze broke out between 3:30 am and 4 am at Basanti Villa Apartment on Badagada Canal Road under Laxmisagar police limits. According to officials, the victims, Biswajit Behera (70) , Sulata Behera (65) , and their 10-year-old granddaughter Tejeswani Behera , were living in a ground-floor unit near the source of the fire. The elderly couple died on the spot after being trapped, while the child succumbed to burn injuries during treatment.

Fire services personnel rushed to the scene and managed to rescue around 27–30 residents , preventing further casualties. However, the fire caused extensive damage , gutting several parked vehicles, including cars and two-wheelers in the building.

Preliminary investigations suggest the blaze may have originated from an electrical short circuit , possibly linked to a panel board or an electric vehicle (EV) charging point installed near the caretaker’s living quarters. Experts noted that improper EV charging setups without dedicated infrastructure can lead to overheating and electrical overload.

Reports also indicate that the victims were trapped due to limited exit options , highlighting structural and safety shortcomings. Authorities have sent the bodies for post-mortem and launched a detailed probe into possible negligence and violations.

The tragedy has intensified calls for stricter inspections, fire safety compliance, and regulated EV charging systems in residential buildings to prevent similar incidents.