Kurnool Bus Fire: 234 Smartphones Onboard May Have Fueled Deadly Blaze, Say Experts
Investigators reveal 234 smartphones worth ₹46 lakh were inside the Kurnool bus that caught fire, killing 19 passengers. Exploding batteries and fuel leak suspected to have intensified the blaze.
Kurnool Bus Fire: 234 Smartphones Inside Vehicle May Have Fueled Deadly Blaze, Say Experts
A stunning disclosure has come to light in the Kurnool bus fire disaster that took place on Friday morning and took 19 people. The investigators have revealed a shipment of 234 smartphones which was being shipped along with the bus, and the experts think that the fire might have been rendered more fierce by the lithium-ion batteries of these smartphones.
🔥 Smartphones Worth ₹46 Lakh Found Inside Bus
The officials said that the smartphone consignment, which was worth ₹46 lakh, was being sent to Bengaluru from Hyderabad by a businessman named Manganath. The consignment was meant for e-commerce giant Flipkart, who would be delivering it to customers in the area.
The fire first broke, according to witnesses, and they reported hearing a series of tiny explosions which they attributed to the batteries of the phones bursting due to the extreme heat.
🚒 Fire Officials Trace Cause To Fuel Leak, Electrical Batteries
P. Venkataraman, Chief Fire Officer of the Andhra Pradesh Fire Services, said that the bus floor was so hot that it melted the aluminium. Moreover, the batteries in the smartphone and in the air-conditioning of the bus exploded and the fire became hotter.
Venkataraman, who was present at the incident, described the destruction as a disaster and said, "not only bones but also ash were falling down through the melted sheets," thus highlighting the intensity of the fire.
⚠️ Structural Flaws In Bus Design
Fire experts have also pointed out weaknesses in the bus design, which went for the lightweight approach using aluminium instead of iron to cut weight and increase mileage. However, this made the bus highly susceptible to the fire and, as a result, the fire spread quickly, and the passengers could not escape.
🕯️ The Tragedy
The bus fire was reported to have happened during the journey of the sleeper bus, which was to carry passengers from Hyderabad to Bengaluru. The passengers were caught unaware and within a few minutes, the bus was fully on fire, killing 19 people and causing injuries to others.
The authorities are still conducting an inquiry with the emphasis on safety negligence and illegal movements of flammable materials.
