CHENNAI: The 100 staff workers pressed into service felt a sense of victory as they doused the fire in Perungudi dump yard after a fight of four days. On day one, Wednesday, the flames were so firece it appeared as though they would rage on for a week. Plumes of smoke extended more than 7km from the dump yard into the residential areas.
However, because of the tireless work of the corporation, Metrowater and fire service officers, the fire, that had enveloped nearly 15 acres, was finally doused on Saturday. Since Wednesday as the staff were fighting the flames, officials from various line departments corporation, fire services and Metrowater were stationed at a makeshift control room just 100 feet away.
“A multi-pronged approach was adopted. First, it was ensured that all senior officials from the line departments were present at the dump yard. The second strategy was to restrict the fire within 15 acres,” said city corporation commissioner Gagandeep Singh Bedi who had flown back to the city from Hyderabad on Wednesday on hearing about the fire.
The corporation brought in 22 earthmovers and 15 lorries to douse the flames with earth as a deoxygenation process. Simultaneously, 14 fire engines and seven jet-rodding machines were also deployed. “We had also stored treated water in the sumps of Perungudi yard so we don’t waste fresh water to douse the flames. We used the sky lift machines worth ₹20 crore to throw water from the top,” the commissioner said.
The corporation had also cut off the high-tension power lines running above the landfill. “We also arranged for additional lighting so that the operation could continue at night,” he said.
Regional deputy commissioner (south) Simranjeet Singh Kahlon said fire service vehicles and metro water tankers will remain at the spot for two more days as a precaution. “We have asked some of the staff to remain at the site too. The flames are 100% doused and there’s no smoke now,” he said.
Corporation chief engineers S Rajendran, N Mahesan and zonal officer of Perungudi PV Srinivasan were stationed at the site for all four days to ensure the flames were doused.
