A catastrophic bus fire in southern India, which claimed the lives of at least 20 people, was significantly worsened by the presence of hundreds of smartphones onboard, according to forensic officials. The incident occurred early Friday when a Bangalore-bound bus collided with a motorcycle, rupturing the bus’s fuel tank and triggering a massive explosion. Eyewitnesses reported that approximately 40 passengers struggled to escape as locals rushed to rescue survivors. Forensic experts revealed that the bus was transporting 234 mobile phones, whose lithium-ion batteries likely intensified the fire upon rupture. Kurnool Superintendent of Police Vikrant Patel stated, ‘The bus batteries, flammable furnishings, and the cargo of cell phones aggravated the fire, leading to this tragic event.’ Additionally, P Venkataraman, the director-general of the Andhra Pradesh Fire Services Department, noted that the air conditioning system’s electrical batteries also exploded, further fueling the blaze. The smartphones, valued at 4.6 million Indian rupees (£39,361; $52,377), were en route from Hyderabad to an e-commerce company in Bengaluru. Lithium-ion batteries, commonly used in smartphones, pose a significant fire risk when damaged due to thermal runaway, a phenomenon where uncontrollable temperature increases occur, making it difficult to extinguish with conventional methods. Authorities have launched an investigation into potential negligent driving, as the bus driver fled the scene, and the motorcyclist involved in the crash is among the deceased. Buses are a prevalent mode of transport in India, but safety regulations are often disregarded, and vehicles are frequently overcrowded. India recorded the highest road accident death toll globally last year.