Firefighting to resume today; smoke emission down

Police enquiry ordered into sabotage theory

Smoke billowing out of the plastic heap that caught fire at the Brahmapuram solid waste plant, on Saturday morning.

Though the fire that broke out at the Brahmapuram solid waste treatment plant was brought under control, it could not be doused completely.

Efforts to put out the fire will resume on Sunday morning, District Collector Mohammed Y. Safirulla, who visited the site, said.

The Collector added that the services of fire personnel would be available at the site and nearby areas at any time. He said the emission of smoke had now been brought down by 25%.

The Collector also said that a police inquiry had been ordered in the wake of the widespread sabotage theory behind the fire. Meanwhile, the Infopark police have registered a case in connection with the incident.

Mr. Safirulla visited the site with Additional Chief Secretary T.K. Jose.

“There was no alternative but to let the fire run its course, and the focus later on was on controlling smoke, which kept billowing. The threat of another fire breakout remains as the place remains littered with loads of waste,” said P. Dileepan, Regional Fire Officer.

Around 15 fire tenders and close to 50 firefighters continued to work at the site, braving extreme heat and a highly hazardous atmosphere.