Indore, October 23 (Udaipur Kiran): A tragic fire incident in Indore’s Lasudia area early Thursday morning claimed the life of senior Congress leader and Narmada Sena national president Pravesh Agrawal. The fire broke out at his penthouse located above his automobile showroom near Dewas Naka. Agrawal reportedly died due to suffocation, while his elder daughter Saumya (15) sustained severe burn injuries and is undergoing treatment at Bombay Hospital.
Security guards managed to rescue his wife Shweta Agrawal and younger daughter Myra (10) safely from the burning penthouse. Police and fire officials have launched an investigation into the incident.
According to preliminary information, the fire began around 5 a.m. in the three-storey building housing Agrawal’s Mahindra car showroom on the lower floors and the family residence on the top floor. Lasudia Police Inspector Neetu Singh said the blaze is suspected to have started from an oil lamp placed in the family’s home temple, which caused smoke to spread rapidly throughout the penthouse.
“The family was asleep when the incident occurred. The dense smoke made it difficult to open the digital locks and air-conditioned rooms, leading to suffocation,” Singh said. Agrawal’s body has been sent for post-mortem, and his daughter’s condition remains critical, she added.
Fire Department ASI Sushil Kumar Dubey said the team reached the spot soon after receiving the alert and managed to control the flames. “When we entered the penthouse, Mr. Agrawal was found unconscious. We learned that before losing consciousness, he tried his best to help his daughters escape. The smoke had no outlet, which worsened the situation,” Dubey said.
Officials confirmed that the vehicles in the showroom below were not damaged in the fire.
Pravesh Agrawal, a well-known Congress figure in Madhya Pradesh, was considered close to former Chief Minister Kamal Nath and was part of his core team. He had earlier sought an assembly ticket from Dewas and had also requested a mayoral nomination for his wife.
Expressing grief, Kamal Nath posted on social media, “Deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Congress leader Shri Pravesh Agrawal in the Indore fire incident and the critical condition of his wife. He was a dedicated soldier of the Congress. May his soul rest in peace and may the family gain strength to bear this loss. Om Shanti.”
Former Union Minister Arun Yadav also condoled the death, calling Agrawal a “committed and hardworking Congress worker” and prayed for peace to the departed soul and recovery for the family.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.