Kochi struggling to breathe; district collector declares holiday for educational institutions

Collector said the smoke was down by around 95 percent and that they had sought help of the New York City Fire Safety Department.

ByMuhammed Fazil

Published Mar 13, 2023 | 7:26 AMUpdatedMar 13, 2023 | 10:19 AM

Brahmapuram wasteyard fire

The toxic smoke rising from the Brahmapuram waste dumping yard fire is making residents of Kochi breathless. And as the dumpyard continues to smoulder even 11 days after a fire broke out, there are reports of more and more people leaving the area, and growing lung-related issues.

Several employees who are working at the Kochi Infopark, only around a kilometre away from the site, have reportedly shifted from the city, taking the work from home option.

However, Ernakulam district Collector NSK Umesh said on Sunday, 12 March, that the smoke was down by about 95 percent, adding that they had sought the help of the New York City Fire Safety Department.

He also said that there still could be fresh fires in some areas of Sectors 6 and 7 of the Brahmapuram waste dumping yard.

Related: Kerala ministers visit Brahmapuram waste plant

Holidays for educational institutions

The collector also declared a three-day holiday for all educational institutions, including professional courses, on Sunday. However, there is no change in the dates of the SSLC and higher secondary examinations.

The government has announced an action plan to be implemented on a war footing to ensure that such incidents do not recur in the state.

Under the 82-day-long action plan, stringent measures would be taken for the source-level management of biodegradable waste and for the door-to-door collection of non-biodegradable waste in the state.

The Kerala government has decided to install air quality monitoring devices in select hospitals of the coastal city, which is reeling under a toxic haze from the fire.

State Health Minister Veena George said installing the air quality monitoring devices will help identify the possibility of people getting sick due to the worsening air quality.

“The devices will help identify the possibility of people falling sick and ensure preventive measures to be taken well in advance,” George said in a release.

Related: Kerala HC asks whether Brahmapuram fire was manmade

Residents fighting with discomfort

“Till Saturday evening, around 799 people sought medical help due to inhaling the toxic fumes. This number may not be accurate since several others, who haven’t visited any hospitals, are still in the city and the surrounding areas, an independent journalist M Suchitra told South First.

According to her, some smoke is still rising from the dumpyard, affecting the residents of Kochi negatively.

In the wake of the incident, health workers will be conducting surveys regarding the health of the people who have been affected by the smoke by visiting them door-to-door.

“I’m residing near Palarivattom, the smoke has subsided in this area. However, the health hazards due to the smoke will come out only at a later stage. We can’t be sure whether the present issues in breathing would be temporary until proper health check-ups are completed,” James, a social worker, told South First.

He also added that even before the fire, the foul smell emerging from the waste treatment plant was a concern for the locals and that there should be a proper investigation into the incident.

Meanwhile, on Saturday, noted filmmaker Ranjith Shankar took to Facebook to question the authorities regarding the Brahmapuram waste plant and the fire, including the most asked question by the people: “Is the explanation that the fumes do not have any side effects true? If yes, why are the people asked to take precautionary measures,” he wrote on Facebook.

The questions came in the wake of the health minister’s advice that people should wear masks due to the discharge of pollutants from the fire-hit Brahmapuram waste treatment plant.

South First tried to contact Health Minister Veena George for a clarification on the issue. However, she was unreachable.

Meanwhile, the Kochi Corporation acknowledged its mistakes with regard to the fire that occurred in the Brahmapuram plant.

Health Standing Committee Chairman TK Ashraf told the media that it would be a vile attempt at justification if they say that the corporation is not at fault in this issue, he said seeking an apology from Kochi’s residents.

He also said that in earlier cases the fires that occurred were controlled within two days, but this time things got out of control since the weather was also unfavourable.

(With PTI inputs)