How A Consignment Of 234 Smartphones Aggravated The Deadly Kurnool Bus Fire

Last Updated:October 25, 2025, 16:22 IST

The ill-fated bus that caught fire after colliding with a two-wheeler was carrying a consignment of 234 smartphones, which aggravated the fire that killed 20 passengers.

The bus caught fire in Kurnool district in Andhra Pradesh on Friday. (Image: PTI)

A tragic incident in Andhra Pradesh shook the country on Friday when a Bengaluru-bound private bus caught fire in Kurnool after colliding with a two-wheeler, triggering a blaze that left 20 people dead. The ill-fated bus was carrying 44 passengers at the time of the incident.

The bus was dragged under the bus after the collision and sparks from this caused the fire. It has now been found that a consignment of 234 smartphones worth Rs 46 lakh aggravated the fire and caused the death of 20 passengers onboard.

“The bus batteries, presence of flammable furnishings in the bus and the cargo consisting of cell phones aggravated the fire leading to the tragic event," said Kurnool SP Vikrant Patel in a statement.

According to a report by NDTV, the smartphones were being shipped by a Hyderabad-based businessman identified as Manganath. The consignment was to reach an e-commerce company in Bengaluru, where the phones would be supplied to customers.

Eyewitnesses Heard Batteries Exploding

As the phones caught fire, eyewitnesses reported hearing the batteries exploding. In addition to the smartphones, the electrical batteries used for the air conditioning system of the bus also exploded, according to P Venkataraman, director-general of the Andhra Pradesh Fire Services Department.

The resultant heat was so severe that it melted the aluminium sheets of the bus floor. “We saw bones and ash dropping through the melted sheets," Venkataraman said. Furthermore, officials said some of the materials used for making beds and curtains were flammable, which might have intensified the fire.

Several passengers were fast asleep and died without even realising what had happened as the fire quickly spread through the bus. The bus door got jammed due to a short circuit, and several passengers smashed the window glass to escape, worsening the severity of the incident. Several bodies were charred beyond recognition, prompting officials to call forensic teams for identification.

People from all walks of life condoled the incident, including President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, and Chief Ministers N Chandrababu Naidu (AP) and A Revanth Reddy (Telangana).

The Andhra government announced Rs 5 lakh ex-gratia for the deceased and Rs 2 lakh for the injured. A case was registered against two drivers, one of whom jumped out of the window, for alleged negligent and overspeeding driving in connection with the fatal bus fire.

Home Minister V Anitha said the state government has constituted a committee comprising officials from the transport, roads and revenue departments to investigate the fatal fire. She further stated that 16 teams have been constituted to probe the incident.

Aveek Banerjee

Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international...Read More

Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international...

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