Deadly Andhra Bus Fire Fueled by 234 Smartphones Worth Rs 46 Lakh

Hyderabad: A horrifying bus fire in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh, claimed the lives of 19 passengers on Friday morning, and new details suggest that a consignment of 234 smartphones worth Rs 46 lakh significantly intensified the tragedy. Investigators say the smartphones, being transported inside the bus, may have contributed to the deadly blaze.

The consignment was sent by a Hyderabad-based businessman, Manganath, and was destined for the e-commerce giant Flipkart in Bengaluru, from where the phones would reach customers. Forensic experts noted that the batteries of these smartphones exploded during the fire, amplifying its intensity and making rescue efforts even more difficult. Eyewitnesses reported hearing multiple battery explosions as the fire consumed the bus.

Andhra Pradesh Fire Services Director-General P Venkataraman revealed that the initial fire likely started in the front section of the bus due to fuel leakage. A bike stuck under the vehicle caused petrol to splatter, igniting flames that spread rapidly. The bus’s aluminium construction, designed to reduce weight and increase speed, melted under the extreme heat, worsening the devastation.

Venkataraman described the scene as catastrophic: “We saw bones and ash dropping through the melted sheets,” highlighting the severe loss of life. He also noted that the electrical batteries of the bus’s air conditioning system further intensified the fire.

This tragic incident underscores the dangers of transporting flammable goods like smartphones in public transport vehicles and raises urgent questions about road safety regulations in Andhra Pradesh. The deadly bus fire, fueled by the 234 smartphones consignment, has left families and the community in shock, mourning the lives lost in a preventable disaster.