A major fire that started in a plot owned by the Cochin Port Authority (CoPA) on Wellingdon Island in Kochi last evening and spread to dry grass has been totally extinguished, officials said on Tuesday.
The fire broke out on CoPA land close Indian Maritime University, and the Southern Naval Command was called in to help put it out. According to officials, the fire, which began around 7.45 p.m. yesterday, was fully extinguished around 10 p.m. after nearly two hours of continuous operations.
“On request of assistance, Southern Naval Command immediately pressed Naval firefighting services into action, Naval fire tenders rushed to the scene and assisted port officials,” the Southern Naval Command said in a tweet.
“The extent of the fire, which spread over more than 300m with high rising flames, was localised with continuous operations by the Naval fire tenders,” the statement added.
The source of the fire is still unknown. More information about the incident is expected.
Another fire broke out on March 26 in Sector 1 of the Brahmapuram waste dumping yard, following a major fire that started on March 2 and endured 12 days.
Following the first fire, the Kerala High Court filed a suo motu case, and the National Green Tribunal fined the Kochi Corporation Rs 100 crore.
The fire and dense smoke from it had spread to nearby regions. The opposition had called on the state administration to declare a state of emergency in the area, claiming that the toxic smoke from the waste mound fire has caused severe health issues for the nearby people who live there.