Noida: Man suffers burns after month-old phone explodes in his jeans pocket

NOIDA: A 22-year-old youth suffered burns in the right leg after his Oppo F11 phone, which he had bought a month and a half ago, exploded in the pocket of his jeans. Vashu Bhati, a driver, said he was getting his car repaired at a garage in Tughalpur market on September 1 when the phone exploded. The incident occurred around 10am.
“I had bought the phone from a shop in Surajpur on July 11. I still have the bill with me. On September 1, I had stepped out to get my car repaired when the phone exploded in my jeans,” he said. Bhati added that there was a loud sound and his right thigh was badly burnt. He said he had bought the phone for Rs 19,900.
Bhati was taken to Navin Hospital in Alpha 1 sector and discharged after treatment. He alleged he had called up the company’s customer care service and even sent them an email, but was yet to receive any response from them.
“I had lodged a complaint with the Oppo customer care service, but did not get any response from them. They kept forwarding my calls to different departments and supervisors. After a few days, I sent them an email along with the bill. I even sent them my complaint, but to no avail. Someone tried to contact me from the Oppo team after my case became public,” Bhati told TOI.
Bhati alleged that his 70-year-old grandmother was so shocked after the incident that she suffered a heart attack on September 3 and died. “She was in shock after hearing that my phone had exploded in the pocket. On the morning of September 3, she died of a heart attack,” he added.
The youth has also lodged a complaint at Knowledge Park police station. Varun Pawar, the station house officer of the police station, said they would initiate an inquiry into the case and record the statements of those who were at the garage when the phone exploded.
A spokesperson for Oppo told TOI the firm was yet to receive the purchase proof of the phone and would inquire into the complaint. He said the company would issue a statement after that.
Bhati, however, said he has already mailed the phone bill to the Oppo team.