Explosion occurred as soon as AC was switched on, woman died… Why do blasts happen and how to protect yourself from such accidents?

A heart-wrenching incident took place in Gwalior on 8 March 2026, where the compressor exploded as soon as the AC was switched on. Due to this, the gas cylinder kept in the house leaked and the three-storey house was engulfed in flames. In this accident, a woman named Ankita Aggarwal died due to suffocation due to smoke.

Two children and other members of the family were trapped, but SDRF rescued them. Teams of Fire Brigade, BSF and Army brought the fire under control after more than 3 hours of hard work. This incident shows how dangerous AC blasts can be, especially in summer when the AC runs day and night.

Why do explosions occur in AC?

The main reason is excessive increase in pressure inside the compressor. When the AC turns on, the compressor compresses the gas (refrigerant). If something goes wrong, an explosion may occur. Common reasons are:

• overheating: Continuous running of AC in summer, poor ventilation or dirty filter/coil causes the compressor to overheat. This increases pressure.
• Poor Maintenance: If service is not done once or twice a year, dust accumulates, air flow is blocked, and the compressor gets overloaded.
• Faulty wiring or installation: Improper wiring, power surge, voltage fluctuation or old wiring can cause short circuit, which causes spark.
• Refrigerant leaking or wrong gas: Some refrigerants (e.g. R32, R290) are flammable. If there is leakage, spark may cause fire.
• Other reasons: Excessive load, wrong temperature setting or old AC.

In the Gwalior incident, the compressor exploded when the AC was switched on, due to which the gas cylinder leaked and the fire spread. Such accidents are increasing because people run ACs without service.

How to stay safe from these?

1. Get service done: Get professional service done every 6 months. Keep filters and coils clean.
2. Proper Installation: Install only by a certified technician. Get the wiring checked, use a stabilizer.
3. Do not overuse: Avoid running overnight. Set at 24-26 degrees, not too cold.
4. Safety Check: Check for gas leaks, do not keep gas cylinder near AC. Install smoke detectors.
5. Pay attention to signs: If strange noise, overheating, bad smell or less cooling occurs, stop immediately and call service.
6. Preventing AC blast is easy – just take some precautions. AC is necessary in summer, but safe use can save life. If there is any problem with your AC, do not ignore it.