Khorang at 09:59, 11 April 2026

2026-04-11T09:59:40Z

New page

{{Short description|Waste dumpyard fire in India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2023}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2023}}

In March 2023, a major fire broke out at the 110-acre [[Bhrahmapuram landfill]] site at Bhrahmapuram in [[Vadavucode|Vadavukot]]-[[Puthencruz|Puthankurish]] Panchayat, 17 km from [[Kochi|Kochi city]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=വരുത്തിവച്ച വിന: ശ്വാസംമുട്ടി കൊച്ചി; ബ്രഹ്മപുരത്ത് സംഭവിക്കുന്നത് എന്ത്? |url=https://www.manoramaonline.com/news/editorial/2023/03/06/writeup-about-brahmapuram-fire.html |access-date=2023-03-19 |website=ManoramaOnline |language=ml}}</ref> The fire began on 2 March 2023 at around three in the afternoon.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ബ്രഹ്മപുരം മാലിന്യ സംസ്കരണ പ്ലാന്റിൽ തീപിടിത്തം; അണയ്ക്കാനുള്ള ശ്രമം തുടരുന്നു |url=https://www.manoramaonline.com/news/latest-news/2020/02/18/fire-at-kochi-brahmapuram-waste-plant.html |access-date=2023-03-19 |website=ManoramaOnline |language=ml}}</ref> Smoke rising from Bhrahmapuram made life difficult for the people of [[Ernakulam]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=ഡെസ്ക് |first=വെബ് |title=ബ്രഹ്മപുരം വിഷയത്തിൽ ദീർഘകാലാടിസ്ഥാനത്തിൽ പരിഹാരത്തിന് ശ്രമമെന്ന് കളക്ടർ;എട്ടാം ദിവസവും തീ അണയ്ക്കാനായില്ല |url=https://www.thefourthnews.in/news/keralam/kochi-mayor-m-anil-kumar-explains-about-brahmapuram-garbage-issue |access-date=2023-03-19 |website=The Fourth |language=ml |archive-date=14 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230314091511/https://www.thefourthnews.in/news/keralam/kochi-mayor-m-anil-kumar-explains-about-brahmapuram-garbage-issue |url-status=dead }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=5 days in, Brahmapuram blaze continues to choke Kochi |url=https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/environment/5-days-in-brahmapuram-blaze-continues-to-choke-kochi-88084 |access-date=2023-03-19 |website=www.downtoearth.org.in |language=en}}</ref> Weeks after the devastating fire at the Brahmapuram landfill, another fire was reported on 26 March.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kochi's Brahmapuram waste dumping yard catches fire, again |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/kochi/2023/mar/26/kochis-brahmapuram-waste-dumping-yard-catches-fire-again-2559741.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326131438/https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/kochi/2023/mar/26/kochis-brahmapuram-waste-dumping-yard-catches-fire-again-2559741.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=26 March 2023 |access-date=2023-03-26 |website=The New Indian Express}}</ref>

==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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=പുകമറയ്ക്ക് പിന്നിൽ |url=https://www.manoramaonline.com/news/editorial/2023/03/10/political-controversies-related-to-the-brahmapuram-plant.html |access-date=2023-03-19 |website=ManoramaOnline |language=ml}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ബ്രഹ്മപുരം നൽകുന്ന ആപൽസൂചന |url=https://www.manoramaonline.com/news/editorial/2019/02/24/lp-leader-25-02.html |access-date=2023-03-19 |website=ManoramaOnline |language=ml}}</ref>

==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 [[Cochin Port|Kochi Port Trust]] were also brought and tried to douse the fire along with [[Kerala Fire And Rescue Services|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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=വിഷപ്പുകയില്‍ മുങ്ങി കൊച്ചി: മലിനവായു പാരമ്യത്തില്‍; തീപിടിത്തം 75 ഏക്കറിൽ |url=https://www.manoramaonline.com/news/latest-news/2023/03/05/brahmapuram-waste-plant-fire-updates.html |access-date=2023-03-19 |website=ManoramaOnline |language=ml}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=പുകമറയ്ക്ക് പിന്നിൽ |url=https://www.manoramaonline.com/news/editorial/2023/03/10/political-controversies-related-to-the-brahmapuram-plant.html |access-date=2023-03-19 |website=ManoramaOnline |language=ml}}</ref>

==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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ആവശ്യത്തിന് ആളും യന്ത്രങ്ങളുമുണ്ടായിട്ടും തീയണയ്ക്കാൻ െവെകുന്നതെന്ത് ? |url=https://www.manoramaonline.com/news/kerala/2023/03/11/high-court-on-brahmapuram-fire.html |access-date=2023-03-19 |website=ManoramaOnline |language=ml}}</ref> In 2019, the [[List of chief ministers of Karnataka|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.<ref>{{Cite web |title='സര്‍ക്കാരിന് ഒന്നും ചെയ്യാനാവുന്നില്ല; കൊച്ചിക്കാര്‍ അഗ്നിപര്‍വതത്തിനു മുകളില്‍: കേന്ദ്രം ഇടപെടണം' |url=https://www.manoramaonline.com/news/latest-news/2023/03/10/k-surendran-seeks-central-intervention-in-brahmapuram-fire-incident.html |access-date=2023-03-19 |website=ManoramaOnline |language=ml}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web |last=ലേഖിക |first=നിയമകാര്യ |title=ബ്രഹ്മപുരത്ത് നിരീക്ഷണ സമിതിയെ നിയോഗിച്ച് ഹൈക്കോടതി |url=https://www.thefourthnews.in/news/keralam/high-court-appoints-monitoring-committee-in-brahmapuram |access-date=2023-03-19 |website=The Fourth |language=ml |archive-date=14 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230314091510/https://www.thefourthnews.in/news/keralam/high-court-appoints-monitoring-committee-in-brahmapuram |url-status=dead }}</ref>
== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{coord missing|Kerala}}

[[Category:2023 health disasters]]
[[Category:March 2023 in India]]
[[Category:Health in Kerala]]
[[Category:Industrial fires and explosions in India]]
[[Category:Pollution events in 2023]]

Bhrahmapuram fire - Revision history

Khorang at 09:59, 11 April 2026