My diamond button: YouTubers power bank explodes, destroys room; expert shares safety tips

A Surat-based YouTuber, Shivani Kapila (known online as Little Gloves), documented how a wireless portable charger exploded in her bedroom, causing a devastating fire in late June 2026. “I had put a power bank on charge. It was a good company’s power bank that cost Rs 4,000-Rs 4,500. And it exploded. I had worked hard to make this room. I feel so demotivated. I don’t understand what my fault is. My dog was inside. He is very traumatised. The room is charred. The AC is gutted. I lost my hard-earned YouTube Silver, Gold, and Diamond Play Buttons. The blaze destroyed my clothes and bags. Everything is burned to ashes,” a crying Shivani expressed in an Instagram post. DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to. Always consult your health practitioner before starting any routine.Fortunately, no injuries were reported as her family and pet dog escaped safely. “This is a hard time… I lost so much to fire — my room … my diamond button .. my memories, but I don’t feel sad because my family.. my people are safe and are standing with me. It’s time to take this as a new beginning and restart again. I promise I will bounce back and fly higher,” Shivani captioned the post. Taking a cue from this incident, we asked experts to understand electronic safety hazards. Why do such explosions happen? Mashmoom Zaheem, safety engineer, Abu Dhabi Ports Group, said portable chargers or power banks primarily rely on lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries. “While highly efficient, these batteries are sensitive to physical damage, manufacturing defects, and extreme temperatures. If a battery is compromised, it can undergo thermal runaway—a rapid, uncontrollable increase in temperature that leads to fires, toxic gas release, or even explosions,” said Mashmoom. Jeewan Mahadik, senior head, audit and consultancy, British Safety Council, India, said factors contributing to overheating include overcharging, exposure to high temperatures, using incompatible chargers, or physical damage to the device. “Overheating can start a chain reaction in the battery cells, leading to smoke, fire, or in rare cases, an explosion,” said Jeewan. How to prevent such incidents? *Buy certified: Only purchase chargers with safety certifications from recognised testing labs (e.g., UL, CE, or ETL). Avoid cheap, unbranded counterfeits, said Mashmoom.Story continues below this ad *Inspect for damage: Discard any portable charger that is swollen, dented, punctured, or excessively hot to the touch. “Find a dedicated E-waste or battery recycling center. Before that, you can store a swollen power bank in a stainless steel box. You can also drop off at retail stores (like major electronics outlets) that accept degraded lithium batteries,” said Mashmoom. When you drop it off, explicitly tell the attendants that the battery is swollen or damaged so they can safely store it in their designated hazardous bin, Mashmoom added. *Don’t overcharge or leave unattended: Avoid leaving devices charging on flammable surfaces like beds or couches. Charge them on hard, flat surfaces that dissipate heat. *Avoid extreme temperatures: Never leave power banks in direct sunlight, hot cars, or freezing environments, said Mashmoom. Here’s what you should consider (Image: AI Generated)Is this the case with other chargers? Wall chargers and charging cables: Mashmoom said these do not store energy but handle electrical conversion and resistance. “Cheap, uncertified wall blocks or frayed cables can fail internally, causing electrical arcing (sparks) or overheating that can ignite surrounding materials like curtains, carpets, or bedding,” cautioned Mashmoom.Story continues below this ad Wireless chargers: These rely on electromagnetic induction, which naturally generates heat. “If the coils are poorly made or a stray metallic object gets between the phone and the pad, the heat can spike rapidly and melt the casing. So, always remove chargers once the job is done,”