Delhi fire kills 2 e-rickshaw drivers charging batteries in Raghubir Nagar
Synopsis
Two e-rickshaw drivers from Bihar — one just 17 years old — died in a pre-dawn fire at their rented Delhi home, where they were charging portable vehicle batteries. The tragedy is the latest in a string of fatal NCR fires and puts a spotlight on the near-total absence of safe, regulated charging infrastructure for the capital's vast e-rickshaw fleet.
Key Takeaways
Sahmad (38), both from Bhagalpur, Bihar , were killed in a fire at R-17, First Floor, Raghubir Nagar , West Delhi , on 17 August .
The fire broke out at approximately 5:24 am while the victims were reportedly charging portable e-rickshaw batteries at the premises.
Both men were declared brought dead at Guru Gobind Singh Hospital .
Police are investigating the battery-charging setup as the probable cause; proceedings are ongoing.
The incident follows a 3 August fire in Greater Noida that killed two fire service personnel at an electronics factory.
Two e-rickshaw drivers died after a fire erupted at a rented first-floor premises in Raghubir Nagar, West Delhi, in the early hours of Monday, 17 August, police confirmed. The victims were reportedly charging portable e-rickshaw batteries at the site when the blaze broke out, raising fresh concerns about the safety of informal battery-charging setups across the capital.
How the incident unfolded
Khyala Police Station received a PCR call about the fire at R-17, First Floor, Raghubir Nagar, at approximately 5:24 am. An investigating officer and police personnel reached the spot immediately. Two injured men were found at the premises and were taken to Guru Gobind Singh Hospital, where doctors declared both brought dead on arrival.
The Delhi Fire Service team also responded to the alert, brought the blaze under control, and subsequently inspected the premises as part of the investigation.
Who the victims were
The deceased were identified as Md. Sufed, 17 years old, a resident of Bhagalpur, Bihar, and Md. Sahmad, 38 years old, also from Bhagalpur. According to police, Sufed was living at the rented premises along with his father, Md. Naseeb, and his maternal uncle, Md. Sahmad — all three of whom worked as e-rickshaw drivers and used the space to charge their vehicle batteries. Their remaining family members reside in Bhagalpur.
Investigation underway
Police said a preliminary enquiry is ongoing to establish the exact cause of the fire. Investigators are specifically examining whether the charging of portable e-rickshaw batteries at the premises triggered the incident. Further proceedings are being carried out in accordance with the law, officials said.
Part of a wider pattern
This incident comes amid a series of deadly fire-related accidents in the National Capital Region. Earlier this month, on 3 August, two fire service personnel were killed and three others injured when a wall and an iron beam collapsed during firefighting operations at ILGIM Company, an electronics chip manufacturer located in the Ecotech-3 area of Greater Noida. The back-to-back tragedies have intensified scrutiny of fire safety standards in industrial and residential premises across the NCR.
Experts and civic groups have long flagged the risks posed by unregulated battery-charging in cramped, rented spaces — a practice common among e-rickshaw operators who lack access to dedicated charging infrastructure. As Delhi's e-rickshaw fleet expands, Monday's tragedy underscores the urgent need for standardised, supervised charging facilities.
Point of View
Yet dedicated, regulated charging infrastructure remains almost non-existent for low-income operators. Drivers are left to charge high-capacity batteries in cramped rented rooms, often overnight and unattended. The NCR has now seen multiple fatal fire incidents within a fortnight, yet the regulatory response has been reactive rather than preventive. Until the Centre and Delhi government mandate supervised charging hubs and enforce safety standards at the operator level, such deaths will keep recurring.
NationPress
17 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What caused the Raghubir Nagar fire that killed two e-rickshaw drivers?
Police are investigating the charging of portable e-rickshaw batteries at the rented premises as the likely cause of the fire. The exact trigger has not been officially confirmed, and a formal enquiry is underway.
Who were the victims of the Delhi fire on 17 August?
The victims were Md. Sufed, 17, and Md. Sahmad, 38, both residents of Bhagalpur, Bihar. They were e-rickshaw drivers who lived and charged their vehicle batteries at the rented first-floor premises in Raghubir Nagar.
Where were the injured taken, and what happened?
Both men were rushed to Guru Gobind Singh Hospital in Delhi, where doctors declared them brought dead on arrival.
Is this the only recent fatal fire in the Delhi-NCR region?
No. On 3 August, two fire service personnel were killed and three injured when a wall and iron beam collapsed during firefighting at ILGIM Company, an electronics chip manufacturer in Greater Noida's Ecotech-3 area. Monday's incident is the latest in a series of deadly NCR fires.
What are the safety concerns around e-rickshaw battery charging in Delhi?
E-rickshaw operators, particularly low-income drivers, frequently charge high-capacity batteries in cramped residential or rented spaces without proper safety equipment or ventilation. Civic groups and safety experts have flagged this as a serious fire hazard, calling for regulated, supervised charging infrastructure across the city.
