MANGALURU: Several firefighters and other emergency services are working continuously at Pacchanady dumping ground , after a massive fire broke out in the landfill on Wednesday afternoon.Due to the fire, which was brought under control on Thursday, the entire area is now covered under thick smoke According to locals, the fire at the landfill spread over several acres, was first noticed on Wednesday. After a few hours, due to a heavy breeze, the fire gathered force, and the flames could be seen leaping into the sky. Along with the flames, thick smoke was emitted, and a foul smell pervaded the area.Fire personnel who fought to bring the fire under control, succeeded late in the night. Private water tankers were pressed into service to control the fire. Locals alleged that the fire must have been started by some miscreants. However, officials from the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) denied it, and said that such fires are common during this season, due to high temperatures. Another reason cited for the fire is that loads of garbage have accumulated from the past 10 years in the landfill, due to which chemical reactions may have taken place, leading to the creation of gases such as methane.Mohammed Nazeer, commissioner, MCC, who was overseeing operations to put out the fire at the landfill on Thursday, said that it’s a common thing that garbage dumping areas catch fire due to chemical reactions. “The fire which broke out on Wednesday is totally under control, but smoke is still there in the area. It may take another two days to bring everything under control,” he saidThe last such massive fire in the landfill took place in 2011.

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