A 40-year-old man was killed and his wife and children injured when the battery of his brand new electric scooter exploded and sparked a fire in his bedroom in Vijayawada on Saturday.

His wife suffered severe burns and was in a critical condition in hospital, according to the local police.

Their two children also suffered burns and asphyxiation and have been hospitalised but were reported to be out of danger.

The victim K Siva Kumar, had bought the electric bike only on Friday.

The detachable battery of the vehicle was plugged in for charging at night and it suddenly exploded in the early hours when the entire family was fast asleep, Suryaraopet Inspector of Police V Janaki Ramaiah said.

The loud explosion woke up their neighbours who saw smoke billowing out of the house and had to break open the doors of the house to rescue the family.

The police have registered a case and launched an investigation into the incident.

The quality of batteries of electric two-wheelers have given rise to concern as similar incidents have been reported from other states as well in recent days.

The incident was similar to the one that happened in Telangana’s Nizamabad town on Wednesday when the battery of an electric scooter that was being charged exploded and resulted in the death of a man.

Similar accidents have been reported from Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu as well.

Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari had on Thursday expressed concern over such incidents and said companies found negligent would be penalised if they did not voluntarily recall their defective electric vehicles.