People in Assam are alarmed at stories of “bombiles” — mobile phones that either explode, or make you drowsy, or explode and then make you drowsy, or give you a headache or something. It’s got all the hallmarks of mass hysteria: poorly understood, ubiquitous, transformative technology; nonspecific symptoms; mysterious death without warning:
An estimated 30 cases have been reported so far with more than 20 people admitted to various hospitals in Assam during the past one week. Most of the victims complained of nausea and a splitting headache, and some of them had to be literally wheeled into the hospital unconscious after the mobile handsets exploded soon after receiving a call.
‘This is a mysterious phenomenon and so I have asked for a thorough probe by experts to find out the cause as to why mobile handsets are bursting in such a large number,’ Gogoi told IANS.
At least 10 such cases were brought to the notice of the police – although no cases were registered as the officials were perplexed, not knowing what to do.
According to witnesses and victims, the explosions took place soon after receiving calls from numbers that appeared in red on the handset screens.
‘I got a phone call from an unknown number and I noticed on my handset that the numbers were highlighted in red colour. Soon after I received the call, there was a loud sound and I was left unconscious,’ said Mujib Ali, the driver of a doctor in Guwahati.
‘Bombile’ is the latest terror in Assam
(via Beyond the Beyond)