Bhrahmapuram fire

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In March 2023, a major fire broke out at the 110-acre Bhrahmapuram landfill site at Bhrahmapuram in Vadavukot-Puthankurish Panchayat, 17 km from Kochi city. [1] The fire began on 2 March 2023 at around three in the afternoon. [2] Smoke rising from Bhrahmapuram made life difficult for the people of Ernakulam. [3] Due to the high level of air pollution after the fire in Ernakulam district, many people experienced cough, difficulty in breathing, headache, dizziness, eye discomfort and itching. It took 12-13 days for the fire to be brought under control. [4] Weeks after the devastating fire at the Brahmapuram landfill, another fire was reported on 26 March. [5]

Contents

Origin of fire

The fire brigade received information about the fire at 3.30 pm on 2 March 2023. In the district collector's report, the time reported was 4.15 pm. By the time, the locals arrived at the place within half an hour. The fire originated at the sector one. There were pocklines and excavators but no manpower to operate them. Garbages on the road made it impossible for fire rescue vehicles to pass to the spot. [6] This was the fifth time that the garbage dump caught fire at Bhrahmapuram, but this time the condition of this fire was serious. Areas miles away from Bhrahmapuram were engulfed in smoke. Many people suffered from suffocation and dizziness and had to seek medical help. Many people and medias alleged that the situation was made worse by the failure of the authorities who did not take care to clear the garbage or prepare fire fighting systems despite giving accurate warnings. [7]

Efforts to extinguish fire

The 75 acre area where the fire broke out was divided into six zones and the fire fighting progressed. Fire units from Kochi Port Trust were also brought and tried to douse the fire along with Kerala Fire Force. They tried to put out the fire by pumping more water from Kadambarayar using pumps brought from Alappuzha. changing wind direction adversely affected firefighting efforts. [8] Due to such strong winds, smoke was rising from the garbage heap. In the early days, efforts were made to stir up the waste by using earthmoving machines and dousing the fire with water. Water was also poured from the helicopter. During the night, 26 excavators and 8 JCBs were involved in digging the garbage. Water was pumped continuously. In the first days, 200 people of fire rescue service, 50 volunteers of civil defense, 35 corporation employees and police were engaged in smoke-extinguishing activities. Three ambulances were also camped. The district collector instructed that all excavators should be kept operational throughout the night. Night activities were coordinated by the sub collector and Deputy Collector camped at Bhrahmapuram. [9]

Allegations on corruption

Allegations of corruption of were raised regarding waste bio-mining contract at Bhrahmapuram waste plant. Demands were also raised for an independent probe into the scandal involving politicians, bureaucrats and the Sontra Infotech company. [10] In 2019, the Chief Minister of Karnataka had ordered a vigilance investigation against Sontra Infotech. In 2020, the same company was given the Bhrahmapuram contract. Opposition parties alleged that the Sontra Infratech got the contract after a special intervention from KSIDC. They also asked the Government of Kerala that where did the proposal to extend the contract to the company that did not complete even half of the work within the contract period come from. [11] Allegations were raised that a huge corruption took place in the Kochi Corporation under the guise of a garbage disposal contract, and that the contract was awarded to the children and sons-in-law of the leaders of political parties and the people of Kochi were the ultimate sufferers. [12]

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References

  1. ↑ "വരുത്തിവച്ച വിന: ശ്വാസംമുട്ടി കൊച്ചി; ബ്രഹ്മപുരത്ത് സംഭവിക്കുന്നത് എന്ത്?". ManoramaOnline (in Malayalam). Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  2. ↑ "ബ്രഹ്മപുരം മാലിന്യ സംസ്കരണ പ്ലാന്റിൽ തീപിടിത്തം; അണയ്ക്കാനുള്ള ശ്രമം തുടരുന്നു". ManoramaOnline (in Malayalam). Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  3. ↑ ഡെസ്ക്, വെബ്. "ബ്രഹ്മപുരം വിഷയത്തിൽ ദീർഘകാലാടിസ്ഥാനത്തിൽ പരിഹാരത്തിന് ശ്രമമെന്ന് കളക്ടർ;എട്ടാം ദിവസവും തീ അണയ്ക്കാനായില്ല". The Fourth (in Malayalam). Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  4. ↑ "5 days in, Brahmapuram blaze continues to choke Kochi". www.downtoearth.org.in. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  5. ↑ "Kochi's Brahmapuram waste dumping yard catches fire, again". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 26 March 2023. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  6. ↑ "പുകമറയ്ക്ക് പിന്നിൽ". ManoramaOnline (in Malayalam). Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  7. ↑ "ബ്രഹ്മപുരം നൽകുന്ന ആപൽസൂചന". ManoramaOnline (in Malayalam). Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  8. ↑ "വിഷപ്പുകയില്‍ മുങ്ങി കൊച്ചി: മലിനവായു പാരമ്യത്തില്‍; തീപിടിത്തം 75 ഏക്കറിൽ". ManoramaOnline (in Malayalam). Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  9. ↑ "പുകമറയ്ക്ക് പിന്നിൽ". ManoramaOnline (in Malayalam). Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  10. ↑ "ആവശ്യത്തിന് ആളും യന്ത്രങ്ങളുമുണ്ടായിട്ടും തീയണയ്ക്കാൻ െവെകുന്നതെന്ത് ?". ManoramaOnline (in Malayalam). Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  11. ↑ "'സര്‍ക്കാരിന് ഒന്നും ചെയ്യാനാവുന്നില്ല; കൊച്ചിക്കാര്‍ അഗ്നിപര്‍വതത്തിനു മുകളില്‍: കേന്ദ്രം ഇടപെടണം'". ManoramaOnline (in Malayalam). Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  12. ↑ ലേഖിക, നിയമകാര്യ. "ബ്രഹ്മപുരത്ത് നിരീക്ഷണ സമിതിയെ നിയോഗിച്ച് ഹൈക്കോടതി". The Fourth (in Malayalam). Retrieved 19 March 2023.

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