India, Oct. 25 -- As the details of the horrific Kurnool bus fire come to light, it is now being reported that some 234 smartphones in the bus could have intensified the blaze that claimed at least 20 lives on the Bengaluru-bound private bus that caught fire in the wee hours of Friday.

NDTV reported that the bus was carrying a consignment of 234 Realme smartphones worth Rs.46 lakh, which were being shipped as a parcel by a Hyderabad-based businessman identified as Manganath. The report quoted forensic experts as saying that the exploding batteries are likely to have contributed to the intensity of the blaze.

The smartphone consignment was being transported to Bengaluru for Flipkart.

The Bengaluru-bound bus with 44 people on board went ...