A devastating bus fire in southern India has claimed the lives of at least 20 people, with hundreds of smartphones on board believed to have exacerbated the blaze. The tragic incident occurred after a Bangalore-bound bus collided with a motorcycle, triggering an explosion that set off a chain reaction of events.
Eyewitnesses described the chaotic scene as locals rushed to pull out survivors from the burning bus. Forensic experts have now revealed that the bus was carrying 234 mobile phones, which were found to contain lithium-ion batteries. These batteries likely contributed to the fire once they ruptured, spreading flames and intensifying the blaze.
According to officials, the presence of flammable furnishings in the bus, combined with the cargo consisting of cell phones, aggravated the fire leading to the tragic event. The director-general of the Andhra Pradesh Fire Services Department also stated that electrical batteries used for the air conditioning system of the bus exploded, further fueling the inferno.
The smartphones were worth 4.6 million Indian rupees (£39,361; $52,377) and were being sent from Hyderabad to an e-commerce company in Bengaluru. Lithium-ion batteries can pose a fire risk when damaged, as they can experience thermal runaway - uncontrollable temperature increases - making them difficult to stop with conventional firefighting methods.
Authorities have opened an investigation into possible negligent driving over the crash, with the bus driver fleeing the scene. The motorcyclist is among the dead. Buses are a common mode of transport in India, but operators frequently ignore safety rules and overcrowd vehicles, contributing to the nation's high road accident death tolls.
The incident highlights concerns about the dangers of lithium-ion batteries and the importance of proper handling and storage. It also raises questions about the safety measures in place for buses carrying hazardous materials like mobile phones and electrical equipment.
Eyewitnesses described the chaotic scene as locals rushed to pull out survivors from the burning bus. Forensic experts have now revealed that the bus was carrying 234 mobile phones, which were found to contain lithium-ion batteries. These batteries likely contributed to the fire once they ruptured, spreading flames and intensifying the blaze.
According to officials, the presence of flammable furnishings in the bus, combined with the cargo consisting of cell phones, aggravated the fire leading to the tragic event. The director-general of the Andhra Pradesh Fire Services Department also stated that electrical batteries used for the air conditioning system of the bus exploded, further fueling the inferno.
The smartphones were worth 4.6 million Indian rupees (£39,361; $52,377) and were being sent from Hyderabad to an e-commerce company in Bengaluru. Lithium-ion batteries can pose a fire risk when damaged, as they can experience thermal runaway - uncontrollable temperature increases - making them difficult to stop with conventional firefighting methods.
Authorities have opened an investigation into possible negligent driving over the crash, with the bus driver fleeing the scene. The motorcyclist is among the dead. Buses are a common mode of transport in India, but operators frequently ignore safety rules and overcrowd vehicles, contributing to the nation's high road accident death tolls.
The incident highlights concerns about the dangers of lithium-ion batteries and the importance of proper handling and storage. It also raises questions about the safety measures in place for buses carrying hazardous materials like mobile phones and electrical equipment.
this is just terrible 
, 20 lives lost because of some faulty bus and flammable phones... it's just not right 
. I mean, come on, who lets buses with cargo of flammable electronics on the road? 
it's a recipe for disaster 
. And now we're seeing the aftermath, people getting hurt, phones burning... it's all so preventable 
. What's next? I mean, are these buses just gonna become mobile fire hazards or what?! 
A bus full of dead people and thousands of flammable smartphones... it's just so senseless 
. The lithium-ion batteries were literally a ticking time bomb, waiting to ignite 
. You'd think he'd at least try to help those in need instead of leaving them to burn alive 
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. We can't keep ignoring the risks associated with lithium-ion batteries and other hazardous materials 
. It's time for some serious reforms and stricter guidelines for bus operators 
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. Stay woke, stay informed... we can't trust our government (or whoever is really in control 
) to keep us safe on their own 
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. And to think, it's all because of those flammable smartphones on board. I mean, who lets a bus load up with so many lithium-ion batteries?! It's like they didn't even think about the fire risk. I've been saying this for ages, we need better safety regulations in our transport systems.
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that's just great, another bus fire in India killing dozens of people and no one's really holding anyone accountable 
, the bus driver flees the scene and who knows what'll happen to him? And those flammable cell phones on board were basically begging for a fire 
, I mean what's the point of having all those smartphones on a bus? Like, who carries that many phones on public transport?! 
. This incident just highlights how important it is to handle technology with care and respect the risks associated with certain materials. Safety first, folks! 
the fact that the driver fled the scene after the accident is also super concerning 