Pakistani student dies in Australia after e-bike he used to earn a living explodes

In a heartbreaking incident, a Pakistani student in Australia lost his life after a lithium battery in his e-bike exploded inside his residence. The tragedy occurred in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

According to Australian media, the deceased was identified as Haider Ali, who lived in a shared student house in Guildford, Western Sydney. The devastating fire, caused by the explosion of lithuim battery in his e-bike, engulfed Ali’s bedroom, leaving it completely charred, as seen in images shared by the media.

Ali, who hailed from a humble background, was a student supporting himself by working at an Indian restaurant and using his e-bike for Uber and DoorDash deliveries.

Eyewitnesses reported that Ali was seen engulfed in flames as he desperately tried to escape, but he was unable to make it out in time. His neighbors described hearing a loud blast followed by flames rising from the house.

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"The neighbor across the road told me there was a guy standing outside, completely on fire. He was burning, burning, and he died… he couldn’t be saved," a witness told Australian media.

While five other occupants of the house managed to escape, Ali succumbed to the fire. Emergency services arrived within minutes and rescued the survivors, but it was too late for Ali.

Authorities are now making arrangements to send Haider Ali’s body back to Pakistan. His friends and colleagues at a restaurant in Auburn mourned his tragic death.

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"He came from a very humble background, a middle-class family," said Babar Anwar, a friend of the deceased. "All these students have their families overseas. I’m not sure what exactly happened, but everyone wishes to see their loved ones one last time."

Fire and Rescue NSW Superintendent Adam Dewberry stated that the fire appears to have engulfed Ali’s bedroom and does not seem suspicious. Authorities are currently assessing whether his remains can be transported overseas.

Following the incident, Australian authorities issued warnings about the risks associated with e-bike batteries, as their growing popularity has led to an increase in accidents

"A strong message to all Australians: please avoid using substandard bikes with lithium charging. Stay away from unsafe charging practices," President of the Pakistan Association of Australia, Hamid Saroha said.

However, officials noted that there is insufficient data to determine whether such incidents are primarily caused by faulty devices, reckless usage, or negligence.