Mumbai : A massive fire erupted in Deonar dumping ground on Saturday morning that further deteriorated air quality and visibility in the southern parts of the mega city. On getting the information, the civic authorities quickly sent 14 fire tenders and 8 water tankers to bring fire under control. As many as 21 fire officers and 132 fire fighters took 4 hours to bring fire under control but the blanket of heavy smog led many people to experience breathlessness.
Although the fire was brought under control in the afternoon, very thick smog was seen all over the area lacking visibility and arising suffocation.
Fire officer R.A Chaudhari said, “The heavy smog is limiting the accessibility and free movements for fire fighting. The methane gas evolving out of the garbage is highly inflammable causing pocket fires. The wet garbage is causing incomplete combustion creating more smoke consuming time to douse the fire. The fire fighting will be continued tonight and we have made all necessary arrangements,” the officer added.
“Our main concern is the smoke arising out of the garbage which is hazardous to health”, he further added.
As children from the area complained of the eye and throat irritation due to smog, all the municipal schools in Deonar and Shivaji Nagar areas were shut.
Shivaji Nagar police on Saturday registered a case under section 435 (mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to cause damage) of the IPC against three unidentified juveniles in connection with the fire at the Deonar dumping ground. Police sources informed that a case was registered on basis of a statement of security guard at the dumping ground. But they added that there is still no clarity on the cause of fire.
The police are investigating to figure the exact cause behind the fire and see what roles did the juveniles played and whether they dumped anything on the garbage that led to fire or if they set anything ablaze.
