The Andhra Pradesh Police announced on Saturday that the explosion of two 12 KV batteries in the bus caused the vehicle to go up in flames after it hit a bike, resulting in the deaths of 20 people in Kurnool district. However, a preliminary report indicates that a large consignment of smartphones on the bus, in addition to the vehicle's batteries, significantly intensified the spread of the blaze.
On Friday, the two-wheeler, which was captured on camera driving recklessly prior to the accident, was struck by the bus and dragged forward underneath the vehicle, causing the bike's fuel tank to burst and ignite a fire. Twenty people perished in the incident—19 bus passengers and the biker.
According to forensic experts, the private sleeper bus, which was travelling from Hyderabad to Bengaluru, was reportedly carrying 234 smartphones valued at around Rs 46 lakh, transported by a trader via a logistics service. Officials stated that lithium-ion batteries within the devices likely exploded once the fire began, causing flames to spread rapidly throughout the passenger cabin.
The preliminary investigation revealed a fuel leak at the front of the bus, which became ignited after the bike was trapped underneath the vehicle. The ensuing sparks and fuel spill initiated the inferno. Fire officers noted that the aluminium flooring melted due to the intense heat, exacerbating the devastation.
Experts from the Andhra Pradesh Fire Services and Forensic Department have submitted a report confirming that the smartphone consignment, combined with the bus's battery pack, accelerated the fire's spread.
However, Kurnool Range Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of police Koya Praveen stated that the cause of the flareup was the two 12 KV batteries in the bus and not the consignment of smartphones, noting that they were mostly intact.
"That (two-wheeler fuel tank) wasn't the major cause of the fire. The tank burst and fire erupted exactly at the main exit door. And behind the main exit door there were bus batteries, two 12 KV batteries. These batteries exploded," Kurnool Range Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of police Koya Praveen said to media persons.
The DIG said there were two points of combustion. "First was the two-wheeler's fuel tank and the second was its impact on the bus's battery toolkit," he added. Apart from these two reasons, the bus was also furnished with highly combustible materials, including metallic paint, which further aggravated the fire, DIG Praveen said.
Meanwhile, the DNA profiling of the charred bodies was underway to establish their identities, and the process may be completed by Monday, a district official said.
There were 44 passengers on the bus that was going to Bengaluru from Hyderabad, and several managed to escape the fire. The bus driver, who escaped the blaze by jumping through the passenger door, was taken into custody by police, along with the additional driver.
Also Read: Andhra bus fire kills 20, many charred beyond recognition
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