Exploding smartphones worth Tk 6.4mn intensified Andhra Pradesh bus fire, says NDTV

Investigators say lithium-ion batteries of 234 smartphones and bus structural flaws amplified the blaze in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh

A consignment of 234 smartphones, valued at Tk 6.4 million, was being transported in the bus that caught fire in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh, on Friday morning, NDTV reports.

The Indian media cited forensic experts, suggesting the lithium-ion batteries contributed to the intensity of the blaze, which claimed 19 lives.

The devices, shipped by Hyderabad businessman Manganath, were bound for an e-commerce company in Bengaluru. Witnesses reported hearing multiple explosions as the smartphones ignited, amplifying the fire.

Andhra Pradesh Fire Services Director-General P Venkataraman said the initial blaze likely started at the front due to a fuel leakage.

A bike trapped beneath the bus spilt petrol. Combined with heat or a spark, it ignited the fire, which quickly consumed the vehicle, he said.

Venkataraman added that electrical batteries for the bus air-conditioning system also burst, while the aluminium flooring melted under the extreme heat.

“We saw bones and ash dropping through the melted sheets,” he said.

The official also pointed out a structural flaw: the use of lightweight aluminium instead of iron, intended to reduce weight and increase speed, worsened the fire’s impact.

Investigators are examining both the smartphones and bus construction to determine how these factors combined to create one of the deadliest road accidents in the region.