234 Smartphones, Bus Batteries, and a Fallen Bike: Investigating the Deadly Kurnool Bus Fire

At least 19 people were killed when a Hyderabad-to-Bengaluru bus went up in flames early Friday on NH-44 near Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh. Most passengers were asleep when the fire broke out, leaving little time to escape.

Cause of the Fire

Initial reports suggested the bus collided with a bike, but police investigations revealed that the bus ran over a bike lying on the highway after an earlier accident, which triggered the fire.

Several factors may have intensified the blaze:

• The bus, operated by V Kaveri Travels, was carrying 234 brand-new smartphones worth ₹46 lakh in its luggage compartment.

• Lithium batteries in the phones reportedly exploded due to intense heat, aggravating the fire.

• Electric batteries from the bus’s AC system also exploded.

• Spilled petrol from the bike may have contributed to ignition.

• Highly flammable materials inside the bus, including metallic paint, further accelerated the flames.

Official Statements

• Andhra Pradesh Fire Services DG P Venkataramana noted eyewitnesses heard popping sounds as phone batteries burst.

• Kurnool Range DIG Koya Praveen said the main cause of combustion was near the bus exit door, where the bus batteries exploded. He downplayed the role of smartphones, emphasizing the two points of combustion: the bike’s fuel tank and the bus batteries.

The tragedy has sparked widespread grief, with authorities investigating safety violations and the role of flammable materials in the bus.