A massive fire broke out in Brahmapuram’s wasteland near Kochi. On Saturday, the Southern Naval Command said that over 5,000 litres of water were sprayed to extinguish the fire. The fumes from the fire have contaminated the air in a significant area of Kochi and its suburbs.
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The wasteland of Brahmapuram is a hill of garbage and plastic waste that burned persistently for three days in a row.
Kochi wasteland fire
The fire devoured the 75-acre garbage hill, which had plastic waste at its bottom. Both state and central governments are hard-pressed to smother the fire. Considering the slumping air quality, the authorities have advised the residents of Kochi and its suburbs to stay inside. The firefighting units of the Navy and the Cochin Port Trust are positioned apart from the state fire and rescue teams to douse the fire.
After observing the situation of the wasteland, state Industries Minister P Rajeeve affirmed that the blaze will be out by Sunday evening. The fire is currently under control after every precaution was taken. There have been reports of as many as 32 fire engines being called into service. Two high-power dewatering pump sets are being utilised to extract water from a river in the area. The transfer of rubbish, which has been halted as a result of the fire at the factory, will be resumed following certain makeshift plans that will be put in place, he said.
Veena George, the Minister of Health, recommended that those living in affected areas wear an N-95 mask. Adults over the age of 65, children under the age of 12, pregnant women, and adults who suffer from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease have been advised to remain indoors. In every hospital in Kochi, preparations have been made to provide treatment for people suffering from respiratory disorders. She stated that a smoke casualty wing had been established at the Government Medical College in Kochi and that a total of 100 beds had been reserved in the district general hospital to be prepared for any contingency.
As a result of reports that fire and rescue personnel were having trouble breathing,
The Minister of Health has announced that two oxygen parlours have been set up next to the garbage factory in Brahmapuram. In addition, a monitoring system for the quality of the air will be installed at the factory. She went on to say that, as of yet, there have been no significant reports of any health problems.
The PM2.5 and PM10 levels in Kochi reached extremely high levels early on Saturday morning. The N95 and N99 masks, on the other hand, are designed to block 95 and 99 per cent of PM2.5, respectively, according to Dr Mujeeb Rahman K K, a consultant pulmonologist at VPS Lakeshore Hospital.
Particulate matter, often known as PM, is a term that refers to a combination of solid and liquid particles that are floating in the air. PM10 refers to particulate matter with a diameter of 10 micrometres or less, whereas PM2.5 refers to particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 micrometres or less.
The smoke that is produced by burning plastic trash contains several harmful substances. Those who suffer from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (also known as COPD), asthma, and other lung illnesses may be severely affected by it. According to Dr Sophia Philip, an assistant professor in the department of pulmonology at the Government Medical College in Ernakulam, “it can even harm children.”
