A major fire has broken out at the Karnataka Compost Development Corporation (KCDC) in Kudlu, near HSR Layout. One fire engine reached the place and is dousing the flames, after a few alert residents informed them The citizens have also tweeted the authorities about their ‘right to breathe’ even during the lockdown.
Eyewitness Syed Mohammed who shot the video of the fire said, “It appears to be a major fire that is taking place near the cremation grounds. There was a lot of garbage lying around in the area where the fire is taking place. There were 5-10 people standing while the fire was raging…”
Another resident Lalithamba BV says that the toxic RDF pile is not on fire. “Only when we go near will we know. But current situation does not allow us to go.” Regarding the stench of the compost plant, she adds, “The stench has been there in early mornings for the last few days. Air quality is very bad out here.”
After the fire fighters were brought in, eye witness accounts tell us that the fire was reduced gradually.
UPDATE: The fire that broke out due to beedis thrown in the crematorium caused the fire, according to fire force officials who returned to their Electronic City station at 8pm. The mishap took place at around 1pm, but since there were no officials at the KCDC office due to the Corona scare, it took a while for the security officials deployed at the gate to realise the magnitude of the fire and alert them. By the time, the fire force officials reached the venue, it was 2.30pm, and the fire had already spread to the entire length of the compost plant. It took two fire engines and eight water tankers to douse the fire over five hours. “A lot of plastic was burnt in the fire,” said one official who was at the spot. “The smoke was overwhelming.”
