A sharp rise in car fires across Telangana—350 as of July 20, with over a dozen in Hyderabad alone—has sparked serious concerns over vehicle safety and maintenance. Officials warn the actual numbers could be higher.On July 13, a high-end car in Shamshabad caught fire due to overheating and a resulting short circuit; the couple inside narrowly escaped. A day earlier, a van burst into flames at LB Nagar due to spontaneous combustion. In June, similar incidents occurred on PVNR Expressway and at Durgam Cheruvu. Tragically, a 57-year-old teacher died inside his overheating car on the Hyderabad-Mumbai highway.Experts attribute the surge to aftermarket electrical modifications, such as high-wattage audio systems and extra lights, which overload factory wiring.Vikrantt Mohan, president of the All-India Automobile Workshop Association (AIAWA), said that the original wiring in cars is built with limited load-bearing capacity, enough to power specific systems.“But many local electricians in accessory shops add extra devices without calculating the electrical load. This causes the wiring to overheat and degrade over time. Most of these shops lack qualified technicians, and their improper insulation work only worsens the situation,” he said.Echoing Vikrantt, Akbar Merchant, an automobile expert, explains that factory couplers, which connect vehicle parts and manage power flow, are often tampered with to create multiple power sources, far beyond what the car’s system can safely handle. “These couplers are crucial for the smooth functioning of the engine, transmission, and wheels. Splitting them improperly increases the risk of failure and fire,” he added.E Prasad Rao, a former electrical engineer with Singareni Collieries, emphasised that electrical systems should never be disturbed while the vehicle is in motion. “Moreover, as there are several bumpy roads in Hyderabad, vibrations in the battery can cause loose connections, which eventually lead to fires,” he added.“Air-conditioning systems should be serviced regularly, as they operate under significant pressure,” a fire dept official stressed.
