Garbage dumped in India's Bengaluru lake catches fire, emitting columns of smoke

Fire broke out around Bellandur lake in southern Indian city of Bengaluru, letting off thick clouds of smoke that enveloped the area causing hardships to drivers and residents, officials said Friday.

The fire triggered Thursday evening and it took hours for the city's fire department officials to douse the flames.

"Fire erupted in the lake at around 4:00 p.m. (local time) and apparently it began in the clumps of dry grass and garbage," a local official said. "After more than one hour, the firefighters from fire and emergency services arrived but the thick smoke emanating from the lake obstructed their efforts to a large extent."

The columns of smoke emanating from the lake triggered panic among those driving on the roads and forced them to change the route.

Residents blame civic officials for having converted the lake into a dumping ground.

Locals in the vicinity told Xinhua that weeds, dry grass and scattered garbage regularly burnt in the area.

"Local government is apathetic towards the growing pollution and dumping of untreated sewage in the lake," Arun Sharma, a resident said. "Though government from time to time have made tall claims about initiating cleanliness measures to decrease pollution in the lake, but so far no action has been taken."

Meanwhile, India's federal ministry of Environment has ordered an enquiry into the fire incident around Bellandur lake in Bengaluru.

"We are enquiring into it," Anil Madhav Dave, a junior minister for India's Environment, Forest and Climate Change said. "We will have to see what were the reasons behind the fire." Endit