20160212 India Major fire at Kolhapur Line Bazar garbage depot
India Feb 12 2016 “Other”
Dead : dead 0 or unknown Burnout : 0 or unknown Injured : injured 0 or unknown
Major fire at Kolhapur Line Bazar garbage depot
Updated: 2016-02-12-10:46
A major fire broke out at Line Bazar garbage depot early on Thursday, engulfing the area in smoke. Three fire brigade vehicles have been deployed, however, fire fighters were struggling to control the garbage from smouldering.
The entire area has been engulfed in smoke restricting fire brigade workers from entering the depot. Workers found it difficult to reach the top of the garbage piled up.
More than 25 water tankers were used in a day to control the blaze, said fire brigade officials of the Kolhapur Municipal Corporation.
This is the second major fire at the depot over the last four months. In November last year, it took a week for the fire brigade to douse the blaze.
Residents in the area have complained of smoke, irritation in the eyes and coughing problems since morning and have alleged that none of the municipal corporation’s officials, except personnel from the fire department, visited the site.
Workers dumping garbage at the site noticed the fire near the depot’s front gate and informed the fire department. At first, it was assumed that the blaze could be doused with one fire tender. However, fire officials who rushed to the site saw huge flames and smoke emerging from at least 25% of the garbage piled up in the depot.
“It was impossible to enter into the depot today (Thursday). Our workers were trying to control the fire from outside the depot. The entire area is filled with smoke. It may take another day to enter the depot. We have deployed three fire tenders at which will work overnight,” said R K Chile, official in charge of the KMC’s fire department.
Clouds of smoke were seen emerging from the depot and could be seen 500 metres away from the depot. The entire atmosphere was polluted and a foul smell had filled the area around the depot.
There are at least seven residential colonies situated near the depot, such as Ayodhya Colony, More Corner, Ashtekarnagar, Samarth Colony, Jadhav Colony and Devarde Mala.
They have complained that the smoke is making their life miserable.
Smouldering mess
– The solid waste treatment plant was established at Line Bazar in 2005 to process 165 tonnes of garbage per day.
– The plant is shut down since 2009 as the contractor company ran into financial crisis.
– KMC has continued dumping the waste at the site and presently there is around 2 lakh tonnes to 2.5 lakh tonnes of garbage at Line Bazar
– Around 6,000 people live in the vicinity of garbage depot
Web Source: THE TIMES OF INDIA
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolhapur/Major-fire-at-Kolhapur-Line-Bazar-garbage-depot/articleshow/50956437.cms