Indore car fire: Man suffers 60% burns, police smash window to rescue him
Synopsis
A moving car burst into flames at Indore's Choithram Square, trapping driver Rupesh Yadav inside the auto-locked vehicle. Traffic police smashed a window to pull him out after over a minute — but not before he suffered burns across 60% of his body. A short circuit in the ageing car is the suspected cause.
Key Takeaways
Rupesh Yadav suffered burns over approximately 60% of his body after his car caught fire near Choithram Square, Indore on Saturday.
The car's auto-lock system trapped Yadav inside; police broke a window to rescue him after one to one-and-a-half minutes .
TI Sumit Bilonia , Constable Vijay , Head Constable Kamal , and ASI JP Tiwari carried out the rescue.
Yadav was rushed to Choithram Hospital in a loading rickshaw; CPR was administered en route.
A short circuit in the old vehicle is suspected; a detailed investigation is under way.
A man sustained severe burn injuries covering approximately 60 per cent of his body after his moving car caught fire near Choithram Square in Indore on Saturday afternoon. Traffic police personnel rushed to the scene, smashed a window of the locked vehicle, and pulled the driver out after he remained trapped inside for over a minute, according to police officials.
The injured driver, identified as Rupesh Yadav, a resident of Gayatri Nagar, is currently undergoing treatment at Choithram Hospital.
How the Incident Unfolded
The fire broke out between 12.30 p.m. and 12.45 p.m. while Yadav was driving from Rajendra Nagar towards Choithram. Traffic in the area was reportedly heavy due to rain, and the blaze erupted near the busy Choithram Square intersection.
Traffic Police Station Zone-4 TI Sumit Bilonia and his team were managing traffic at the junction when they spotted the burning vehicle and immediately moved to rescue the driver.
How Police Rescued the Trapped Driver
Yadav was trapped inside the car because the doors were auto-locked and the windows could not be opened from outside. Police personnel attempted to force the doors open but were unable to do so.
'Since the vehicle was auto-locked, attempts were made to open the doors, but they would not open. It took about one to one-and-a-half minutes to get the driver out. We broke the window and rescued him,' TI Bilonia said.
Constable Vijay, Head Constable Kamal, and ASI JP Tiwari assisted in the rescue operation.
Medical Response and Condition
Given the severity of Yadav's condition, police personnel transported him to Choithram Hospital in a loading rickshaw. CPR was administered to him en route. Doctors at the hospital confirmed that he had sustained burns over approximately 60 per cent of his body. He is reportedly in critical condition and continues to receive treatment.
Suspected Cause of the Fire
Police said the car was old and a short circuit is suspected to have triggered the blaze. However, the exact cause will be established only after a detailed investigation, officials added.
This is not the first incident of a vehicle catching fire in a busy Indian intersection, raising recurring concerns about electrical safety in ageing automobiles. The investigation is expected to clarify whether a wiring defect or another factor was responsible.
Point of View
And ageing vehicles with suspect wiring face no periodic electrical safety audit. This is a systemic gap, not just one man's misfortune.
NationPress
12 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the Indore car fire near Choithram Square?
A car driven by Rupesh Yadav caught fire near Choithram Square in Indore on Saturday afternoon. The auto-locked doors trapped him inside, and traffic police had to smash a window to rescue him. He suffered burns over approximately 60% of his body.
Who rescued the driver from the burning car?
Traffic Police Station Zone-4 TI Sumit Bilonia led the rescue, assisted by Constable Vijay, Head Constable Kamal, and ASI JP Tiwari. They broke a window after failing to force the auto-locked doors open.
What is the condition of Rupesh Yadav after the car fire?
Yadav sustained burns over approximately 60% of his body and is undergoing treatment at Choithram Hospital. He was reportedly in critical condition when admitted, and CPR was administered while transporting him.
What caused the car to catch fire in Indore?
Police suspect a short circuit in the old vehicle triggered the fire. However, the exact cause is yet to be confirmed and will be established after a detailed investigation.
Why could the driver not escape the burning car?
The car's doors were auto-locked and the windows could not be opened from outside. It took police personnel about one to one-and-a-half minutes to break a window and pull the driver out.
