20220317 Navi Mumbai: Locals panic as massive blaze erupts on Khargar hills
India Mar 17 2022 “Forest”
Dead : dead 0 or unknown Burnout : 0 or unknown Injured : injured 0 or unknown
Navi Mumbai: Locals panic as massive blaze erupts on Khargar hills
Updated: 2022-03-17
The fire broke atop the Kharghar hills at around 8pm on Wednesday.
NAVI MUMBAI: Locals panicked after a massive fire erupted in Navi Mumbai’s Kharghar hills late Wednesday evening.
The fire spread to a vast area as dry grass got engulfed.
As fire engines could not reach atop the hill to douse the flame, the firefighters had to climb the hill and use fire beaters as tools to extinguish the blaze.
“The fire broke atop the Kharghar hills in the Sector 6 area at around 8pm on Wednesday. Due to dry grass over a large area, the fire gradually spread to the foothills near the residential area, creating panic among the residents. Fortunately, there was no overhead high-tension line in the area. But, as a precautionary measure, MSEDCL officials were told to switch off the power supply in residential areas,” said Pravin Bodhake, Kharghar fire officer.
Bodhake said, “We were unable to extinguish the blaze at the foothills by using fire tenders, which cannot reach atop the hill as three is no access road. Thereafter, the firefighters climbed up the hill and used fire beater tools and gunny bags to extinguish the fire. The fire fighting operation continued for six hours till the situation was brought under control around 2am on Thursday.”
“It is possible that during the pre-Holi celebration a bonfire was lit and thereafter the fire spread as the bonfire was not doused. The local police need to probe it,” he added
Meanwhile, in the past, fire officials had claimed that the villagers residing in the adivasi hamlets atop the hills have been burning the thick growth of grass to make pathways for climbing up and down the hills.
Web Source: The Times of India