Mumbai: Mobile phones are the second most left behind article in BEST buses after cash, as per the latest statistics provided by the undertaking . Every year, more than 2,000 mobiles are found in the red buses and more than 50% remain unclaimed, ending up in e-auctions. Interestingly, the average price for which an unclaimed mobile was auctioned in 2015-16 was Rs 355.The statistics revealed that 2,111 mobiles, some with chargers, fetched Rs 7.5 lakh during these auctions A BEST official said, “Many commuters leave behind mobile phones on seats or under them. They are found by co-passengers, who hand it over to the conductor. In May, we recovered 131 mobiles in buses plying on various routes in the island city and suburbs. They were mainly Samsung, Nokia, Micromax and Karbonn phones, and many were less than two years old, in good working condition.”Officials have appealed to commuters to take care of their belongings and ensure they do not leave anything behind in buses, specially mobile phones and cash. TOI had recently reported how Rs 75 lakh was left behind by passengers in the red buses for the last five years, an average of Rs 4,000 every day. The next most valuable item left behind was mobile phones.In 2012-13, BEST conductors found 2,148 mobiles, of which 934 were claimed at the BEST yard in Oshiwara. Similarly, in the last fiscal year (2015-16), 2,427 phones were found in buses, of which 945 were claimed. These will now come up for an e-auction on August 25, sources said.An official from the traffic wing said, “Instead of auctioning the mobiles, BEST is interested in returning them to the rightful owner. Many give up hope. If you follow the procedure, you will definitely get back your mobile.”The auctions are held once in three months for even phones found in buses five to six years back. For details on registration for the e-auctions visit the BEST website www.bestundertaking.com.