Kurnool bus blaze: How 400 smartphones on Bengaluru-Hyderabad route intensified fire | Vijayawada News
NEW DELHI: As the investigation into the Kurnool bus fire case continues, a new development has emerged. A consignment of 400 smartphones was inside the bus that exploded when the accident occurred.Forensic experts have suggested that the exploding batteries of these phones contributed to the intensity of the blaze that engulfed the bus, killing atleast 20 people.
The shipment was en route to Bengaluru for an e-commerce giant to deliver to buyers.The Hyderabad-Bengaluru Kaveri Travels bus fire exposed serious safety lapses in private long distance bus operations. The fire, which broke out near Kurnool, spread so rapidly that the entire vehicle was engulfed within 10 to 15 minutes, leaving passengers with almost no chance to escape.Automobile experts say such incidents are not isolated, but are often linked to non-functional emergency exits and unauthorised electrical alterations made to buses to add comfort or luxury features. These modifications, they explained, frequently overload the vehicle’s original electrical system.Telangana fire officials highlighted the need for regular servicing of air-conditioning systems, which run under high pressure and can worsen overheating if poorly maintained.As the investigation into the Kurnool tragedy continues, experts are urging the govt to tighten enforcement of safety norms, mandate electrical system checks for private bus operators, and penalise unlicensed workshops.“Unless urgent corrective steps are taken, the combination of negligence, illegal modifications, and weak regulation will continue to put lives at risk on our highways,” a senior fire department officer said.
