In the case of high-security feature locks, it is essential to have provisions that allow such locks to be opened manually from inside. Locks with these features are also available in the market. Experts repeatedly warn against using substandard batteries in electric gadgets and advise that all safety measures, including those required during emergencies, should always be kept in mind while using electronic devices.

EVs and Digital Locks:

A Necessity of Modern Life or an Invisible Danger at Home?


• Ranjan Srivastava

The heart-wrenching incident in Indore, which claimed the lives of eight people, has once again highlighted the rapidly growing demand for electric vehicles in our modern lives and the serious, life-threatening risks associated with them. While the loss of lives in this incident is tragic, an even more distressing aspect is that it could have been prevented. Although the exact causes will be determined after the police investigation, prima facie there were not two but three reasons behind the deaths of the Pugalia family and their relatives. First, leaving the electric car charging overnight; second, the absence of an alternative way to open the electronic lock during an emergency; and third, the storage of flammable polymer materials in the house.

Modern vehicles are equipped with numerous safety features, and generally, they are designed to prevent fires during overcharging. However, it cannot be said that they are 100% safe. For the safety of oneself and the vehicle, it is necessary to switch off charging once the required level is reached. Lithium-ion batteries used in vehicles can become unstable if overcharged. According to experts, excessive heat can lead to a “thermal runaway” condition, which may cause an explosion. Additionally, overcharging can lead to the formation of needle-like structures called “dendrites” on the anode, resulting in internal short circuits. In the Indore case as well, preliminary investigation suggests that the fire was caused by a short circuit during charging.

Since all the family members were asleep, the short circuit and the resulting fire were not immediately detected. The presence of flammable materials like polymer in the house further intensified the fire. There were several gas cylinders, and once they caught fire, a series of explosions followed. As the power supply was cut off due to the short circuit and fire, the electronic lock got jammed and could not be opened in the emergency. According to the post-mortem report, the deaths were caused by suffocation due to fire and smoke.

About five months ago, in another incident in Indore, a businessman and Congress leader Pravesh Agrawal died due to suffocation following a fire in his house, while his daughter was admitted to the hospital in critical condition. During Diwali, an “Akhand Jyoti” (eternal lamp) was lit in the house, which is believed to have caused the fire. The house had a high-security electronic lock that did not open during the emergency.

A common factor in both these incidents in Indore was the failure of smart locks. When a fire breaks out and the power supply is cut, such locks often get jammed. If they do not have a manual override option, such as a physical key, people trapped inside cannot escape. The same happened in the Indore incident—the power went off, the lock jammed, and people suffocated due to smoke.

Therefore, in the case of high-security locks, it is essential to have arrangements that allow them to be opened manually from inside. Such locks are available in the market. Experts also repeatedly advise against using substandard batteries in electric gadgets and stress that all safety and emergency measures should always be kept in mind while using electronic devices.

In addition, apart from the main entrance, there should be another safe exit route in the house, or windows should have removable grills. Storage of flammable materials in large quantities is inherently dangerous. About six years ago, in Gwalior, a fire in a three-storey building resulted in the tragic death of four women and three children. The ground floor of the building housed a paint business. A short circuit caused the fire, and large paint cans further fueled it. Around 25 people from three trader families lived in the building, which had no emergency exit.

Currently, war-like situations in many parts of the world have created a severe crisis of oil and gas. Meanwhile, continuous technological advancements in electric vehicles are rapidly increasing their demand. The oil and gas crisis will likely accelerate this trend further. Rising crime rates and inadequate policing have also increased the demand for electronic locks in homes. However, amidst all these necessities, we must not forget that our lives and the lives of our families are the most valuable. Therefore, it is far more important to adopt all possible safety measures for emergency situations. As our dependence on electronic gadgets increases, it is equally important to adopt alternative solutions.

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Mr. Ranjan Srivastava is a senior journalist. After serving as Bureau Chief and senior journalist with English dailies such as Hindustan Times and Free Press, Bhopal, and other reputed newspapers, he is currently based in Bhopal and writes independently on contemporary issues and politics.

Contact: 94253-51688
Email: ranjansrivastava1@gmail.com

EVs and Digital Locks