Hundreds of mobile phones on burning bus intensified deadly fire that killed 20, reports say
India bus crash kills 20 people after mobile phones intensify horrific blaze
- A passenger bus fire in India on 24 October resulted in the deaths of at least 20 people following a collision with a motorcycle.
- The initial blaze, caused by the motorcycle's ruptured fuel tank, was significantly intensified by 234 smartphones with lithium-ion batteries carried by a passenger.
- Matters worsened after the electrical batteries used for the air conditioning system also caught fire and exploded, P Venkataraman, the director-general of the Andhra Pradesh Fire Services Department, said.
- The accident took place in Chinnatekur village near Kurnool, on a route between Hyderabad and Bengaluru, with most passengers asleep when the incident occurred.
- The tragedy underscores the prevalent issue of bus accidents in India, often attributed to private operators disregarding safety regulations and overcrowding vehicles.