An electric car caught fire while being driven near Basanta Chowk, Bharatpur Metropolitan City-9, Chitwan, on Friday morning, leaving one person dead inside the vehicle. The car was travelling west along the service lane of the East-West Highway when the fire broke out at around 6:00 AM.
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Police said the blaze was brought under control with the help of a fire engine. The person inside the car was found dead and the vehicle was destroyed. The body was burned beyond recognition, so no identification could be made at the scene.
Investigators have not yet established how the car caught fire while it was being driven. District Police Office, Chitwan, has started a formal inquiry into the cause, and no mechanical or electrical explanation has been shared so far. No official finding has attributed the fire to any fault in the vehicle.
The incident has raised safety concerns among current and prospective EV owners in Nepal. The high-voltage battery is the main energy source for electric vehicles, and thermal runaway is one potential cause of EV fires. This process involves an abnormal increase in temperature within a battery cell, potentially leading to fire if it spreads to nearby cells. An internal short circuit is another possible cause of battery fires, which can result from manufacturing defects or damage over time.
The battery pack is typically located at the lower part of the vehicle, which helps maintain a low center of gravity but also poses a risk of damage from road debris or collisions. Such damage can lead to delayed or immediate fire risks.
For current and prospective EV owners, this case will be closely watched, as any official finding on the cause of the fire could influence safety checks and future EV buying decisions.
The distributor of the electric car has called for restraint and patience as authorities investigate the incident. They expressed their deepest condolences to the family of Amar Parajuli, who tragically lost his life in the incident, while praying for eternal peace for the deceased. The distributor stated that the manufacturer will inspect and investigate the affected car, with findings expected to be published after the investigation is completed. They emphasized the need for an impartial, technical, and scientific investigation conducted according to internationally accepted protocols.
The distributor also highlighted the importance of avoiding speculation and drawing conclusions before the investigation is completed. They urged the public and media to refrain from making premature judgments or assigning blame until the investigative findings are finalized. The distributor remains committed to working closely with authorities and relevant stakeholders to uncover the true cause of the incident.
Following the accident in Chitwan, the number of people now carrying cutters and hammers in their cars has risen sharply. However, few have paid attention to why the fire actually started in the EV in the first place, and what factors could be behind it. To understand why EVs catch fire, whether the battery is the only vulnerable component or other parts are equally at risk, and what precautions can help prevent such incidents, insights were provided by Deepak Thapaliya, General Manager at Laxmi Intercontinental, who brings long experience in the automobile service sector.
How this developed
3 updatesVictim identified as a 55-year-old Bharatpur man
The person killed is identified as Amar Parajuli, 55, of Bharatpur-11, a former operator of Narayani Vidya Mandir and an ex-serviceman. Family members have made a visual identification; police say a DNA test report is still awaited. The body is at Bharatpur Hospital.
According to family sources, Parajuli had left home on Thursday and travelled to Hetauda, and was returning to Bharatpur via Tandi on Friday morning. The fire started shortly after he crossed the Tikauli forest. The car had been bought about a year earlier.
Police confirm one dead, body unidentified
District Police Office, Chitwan says a body was found completely burned inside the car once the fire was out. Spokesperson DSP Chandrabhushan Yadav says the victim could not be identified at the scene and that an investigation into the cause of the fire is under way.
Fire breaks out on a moving car
An electric car travelling west along the service lane of the East-West Highway catches fire near Basanta Chowk, Bharatpur Metropolitan City-9, at around 6:00 AM. A fire engine brings the blaze under control, but the car is destroyed.
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