In a tragic incident in India, a bus fire claimed the lives of at least 20 individuals on October 24. The fire was intensified by a large number of mobile phones on board, which exacerbated the situation following a collision with a motorcycle.
Details of the Incident
The accident occurred in Chinnatekur village, located approximately 210 kilometers (130 miles) south of Hyderabad. At the time of the collision, the bus was transporting nearly 40 passengers between Hyderabad in Telangana and Bengaluru in Karnataka.
Key Factors Contributing to the Fire
Forensic investigations revealed that a passenger was carrying 234 mobile phones. The lithium-ion batteries of these devices significantly fueled the blaze after the vehicle collided with a motorcycle whose ruptured fuel tank ignited. This dangerous situation was aggravated by various contributing factors:
- Presence of flammable materials inside the bus.
- Batteries from the bus’s air conditioning system also exploded.
- Petrol from the motorcycle leak ignited, triggering a rapid fire spread.
Eyewitness Accounts
Eyewitnesses reported hearing sounds resembling exploding batteries as the fire quickly consumed the bus. Most passengers were reportedly asleep at the time of the accident, which contributed to the high casualty rate.
Official Responses
In the aftermath of the incident, both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Andhra Pradesh’s Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu expressed their condolences. A businessman from Hyderabad had sent the mobile phones, valued at around ₹4.6 million (approximately £39,361), for delivery to an e-commerce warehouse in Bengaluru.
Safety Concerns in Indian Transportation
This incident emphasizes ongoing safety issues within Indian road transportation. Buses operated by private companies often neglect safety regulations, leading to overcrowding and increased risk of accidents. Earlier in the month, another bus fire in Rajasthan resulted in 20 fatalities, attributed to a short circuit.
The combination of these events raises critical concerns about passenger safety and the need for stricter enforcement of regulations in the transport sector across India.
