Scorching heat in India believed to be behind four e-scooter deaths

At least four people in India have died since March after their electric scooters caught fire, with record-breaking hot temperatures feared to be behind the deadly blazes.

A father and daughter died in the state of Tamil Nadu in

March, while two men died last month in the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

In each incident it was reported the scooters' cell batteries were set alight while charging at the victims' homes.

There have also been almost daily reports of scooters catching fire while being used on India's roads over the past two months. Footage shared on social media showed one bursting into flames in the city of Pune, shortly after the rider had parked it. Manufacturing issues or low-quality batteries were first blamed but this is now being disregarded as scooters produced by four firms, including Ola, have caught fire.

Most e-scooters in India use lithium-ion batteries which can degrade and catch fire when charged regularly in temperatures exceeding 30 C. A spokesman for an electric scooter company told The Times of India most lithium-ion batteries were designed for use in countries with colder climates.

India reported its hottest March in the 122 years since records began.