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Across Delhi-NCR, reports of AC units catching fire, exploding or triggering short circuits have become alarmingly common every summe.
News18
The death of retired IAS officer Dhanender Kumar in a suspected AC-triggered fire at his Hauz Khas home has once again brought attention to a disturbing pattern unfolding across Indian cities every summer. Preliminary investigations suggest that a blast in the indoor unit of the air-conditioner may have triggered the fire that eventually led to his death due to smoke inhalation. His son survived and is reported to be out of danger.
Across Delhi-NCR, reports of AC units catching fire, exploding or triggering short circuits have become alarmingly common every summer.
Read More: Retired IAS Officer, First CCI Chairman, Dies After Suspected AC Blast At Delhi Home
Just days before the Hauz Khas incident, a split AC allegedly exploded inside a high-rise apartment in Ghaziabad’s Indirapuram on May 26, sparking a major fire on the 15th floor. Just earlier this month, a fire in a building in Delhi’s Vivek Vihar killed nine people. The cause of fire was suspected to be a blast in one of the ACs in the building and a short circuit.
What makes these fires especially deadly is that many victims died not from burns but from smoke inhalation. Toxic smoke spreads within minutes, particularly at night when families are asleep and air-tight rooms trap fumes inside.
Why Are AC Fires Increasing?
Extreme heat, overworked machines, poor maintenance, ageing wiring and unsafe installation practices are some of the big reasons behind the rise in such incidents, especially across North India.
India’s Record Heat Is Overloading ACs
Indian summers are getting hotter and longer. In many cities, temperatures now routinely cross 45°C. Air-conditioners are being forced to run for hours without breaks, putting immense stress on compressors, capacitors and electrical circuits. Older ACs, especially those that have not been serviced regularly, are particularly vulnerable to overheating.
Faulty Wiring and Cheap Extensions
Many homes were never designed for the sheer electrical load modern households consume today. Air-conditioners draw significant power, and when connected to poor-quality wiring, loose sockets or overloaded circuits, the risk of sparks and short circuits rises sharply.
Electricians often warn against plugging ACs into extension boards or using substandard stabilisers, yet such practices remain common.
Lack of Servicing
Dust accumulation inside indoor and outdoor units can choke airflow and cause overheating. Gas leaks, damaged insulation and worn-out capacitors often go unnoticed because many households skip annual servicing. In several cases, residents reported hearing unusual sounds, smelling something burning or noticing erratic cooling days before the fire.
Continuous Usage During Heatwaves
During peak summer, many ACs run almost continuously for 12 to 18 hours a day. Compressors that are not designed for prolonged operation can fail catastrophically under extreme stress. Power fluctuations during heatwaves further worsen the problem.
Poor Fire Safety in Residential Buildings
Even when the initial fire is small, poor building design turns incidents deadly. Blocked staircases, locked terrace exits, absence of smoke detectors and lack of fire extinguishers have repeatedly emerged as common factors in fatal apartment fires. In many residential buildings, especially older ones, there is little awareness about evacuation protocols.
How To Prevent AC Fires
Most AC fires are preventable with basic precautions.
- Air-conditioners should ideally be serviced before every summer season. Electrical connections, gas pressure, filters and compressors must be checked professionally.
- ACs should have dedicated power lines and proper MCB protection. Avoid using extension cords or sharing sockets with heavy appliances.
- If a home has ageing electrical wiring, especially in older colonies, it should be inspected immediately before summer.
- Burning smells, sparks, unusual noises, repeated tripping or weak cooling should never be ignored.
- Simple smoke detectors can provide precious extra minutes during a fire.
- Many apartment fires escalate because residents have no immediate firefighting tools. It’s always safe to keep a small fire extinguisher at home.
- Staircases, terrace exits and corridors should never be blocked or locked.
- Running ACs unattended for long periods increases risk, especially during voltage fluctuations.
As Indian cities battle worsening heatwaves and rising electricity consumption, ACs are no longer just cooling appliances. They are becoming high-load electrical systems operating inside tightly packed residential buildings. Without better maintenance, safer wiring and stronger fire awareness, such tragedies may only become more frequent.
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