A bus fire that killed at least 20 people in southern India was fueled by hundreds of smartphones on top, local reports said, citing forensics officials.
Blazing flames quickly engulfed the Bangalore-gound bus after it collided with a motorcycle that spilled on the fuel tank and triggered an explosion early Friday.
Eyewitnesses said around 40 passengers struggled to escape as locals rushed to rescue.
Forensic experts today told the local media that the bus was carrying a shipment of 234 mobile phones, and that the lithium-ion batteries they drew on fire at the time they burst into flames.
“Batteries in the bus, the presence of flammable appliances in the bus and cargo consisting of cell phones aggravated the fire that preceded the tragic incident at Police Vikrant.
Meanwhile, P Venkataraman, the Director-General of the Andhra Pradesh Fire Services Department, said that electric batteries were also used in the fire.
“We saw bones and ashes falling on melted blankets,” he told local media.
The smartphones cost 4.6m Indian Rupees (£39,361; $52,377) and were shipped from Hyderrabad in Bengaluru, Broadcaster NDTV reported.
Most smartphones have lithium-ion batteries, which can pose a fire hazard if damaged.
This is because they experience thermal runaway – an uncontrollable rise in temperature – which makes it difficult to stop concrete fire methods. It can also spread to other batteries in close proximity.
Authorities have opened an investigation into possible driver negligence in the crash. The bus driver fled the scene. The motorist is said to be among the dead.
Buses are a common mode of transportation in India, but operators often ignore safety rules and over-vehicles have been involved in road accidents in the world over the past year.