Illegal chemical dump exposed in Srinagar residential area
Srinagar, Jan 10, KNT: A major tragedy was narrowly averted late Saturday evening in the Arampora area of Qamarwari Srinagar after a fire broke out in a residential structure that was illegally being used for hazardous commercial activities, officials said.
According to the Fire and Emergency Services, a fire call was received by the State Fire Control Room at around 8.58 pm. Fire tenders from Fire Station Safakadal, along with reinforcements from the Fire and Emergency Services Headquarters, were immediately dispatched and reached the spot within minutes.
On arrival, fire personnel discovered that a single storey residential house had been unlawfully converted into a commercial unit. The premises were being used for refilling fire extinguishers and for dumping large quantities of Mono Ammonium Phosphate powder.
Officials said hundreds to thousands of plastic barrels were also stored inside the house, located in a densely populated residential locality, posing a serious threat to nearby inhabitants.
The attic portion of the structure was found engulfed in flames. Firefighting operations were launched without delay, and after a sustained and coordinated effort, the blaze was brought under control, preventing it from spreading to adjoining residential houses.
Preliminary investigation revealed that the illegal operation had been functioning for several years. A person from Punjab, involved in the refilling of fire extinguishers along with his father, informed officials that the activity had been going on for the past five to six years. He further stated that the refilling and sealing process was carried out at another unit located in Chanapora.
Authorities have initiated a detailed probe to examine safety violations and fix responsibility for the illegal storage and commercial use of hazardous material in a residential area.
The firefighting operation was conducted under the overall supervision of Deputy Director Fire and Emergency Services Command Srinagar, Dr Mir Aqib Hussain, with effective on ground mobilization and coordination by Mobilizing Officer Aijaz Ahmad Shah.
Officials described the incident as a grave safety violation and warned that unchecked illegal storage of hazardous materials in residential localities could lead to catastrophic consequences.
[KNT]
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