Why Indian Summers Are Seeing More AC Fires — and How Households Can Stay Safe

The death of retired IAS officer and the first Chairman of the Competition Commission of India, Dhanendra Kumar, 80, in a fire caused by a suspected air-conditioner blast at his Hauz Khas home in Delhi on 28 May 2026 has drawn renewed attention to a quietly growing summer hazard in Indian cities — fires triggered by overheated household air conditioners. Earlier in the same week a split AC reportedly exploded on the 15th floor of a residential tower in Ghaziabad's Indirapuram, and earlier this month nine people died in a similar blaze in Delhi's Shahdara.

The pattern is no longer anecdotal. With higher average summer temperatures, longer operating hours and a rapid rise in AC penetration across Indian households, the probability of incidents is climbing year after year. Continuous running raises internal temperatures, degrades insulation, melts plastic components and can ignite combustible material inside the unit. Short-circuiting, where current takes an unintended path, is another common trigger; small short-circuits are routine but a large one in a tightly packed AC unit can cause flash combustion of the refrigerant or insulation.

Several preventive practices reduce risk sharply. Cleaning filters and outdoor units every fortnight in peak summer reduces heat stress on the motor. ACs should be serviced by trained technicians before the season begins, with checks for refrigerant pressure, compressor coil cleanliness, capacitor health and wiring insulation. Households should avoid plugging ACs into extension cords or shared power outlets; the unit should run directly off a dedicated MCB and earth wire. Resting the AC for at least one hour after every continuous 8-10 hours of use cools the compressor and helps insulation recover.

Smoke alarms should be installed in every bedroom, an extinguisher rated for electrical fires (Class C / dry-powder type) kept accessible, and AC outdoor units must never be boxed in with no ventilation. If an AC starts to smell of burning plastic, smoke or make unusual humming, switch off the mains and call a technician — these are the warning signs that have repeatedly preceded fatal blazes this season.