Fire at Vellakal dumpyard continues for second day

Madurai: The fire that broke out at Vellakal dump yard on Sunday evening continued to burn overnight into Monday as firefighters struggled to put out the flames. Strong winds helped spread the fire, igniting more of the waste and growing the garbage fire.Large billows of smoke rendered Avaniyapuram dangerous to travel through, as oncoming traffic was invisible for commuters driving through the thick grey smoke. The smell and smoke travelled as far as the Bypass Road and was visible from various parts across the city, including the AV Bridge and Periyar bus stand.According to officials, the fire was difficult to put out due to heavy winds. The highly combustible methane gas trapped in the landfill ignited deep under the mountains of waste and was difficult to reach.A senior corporation official said that five bulldozers were being used to move large amounts of garbage, allowing the firefighters to reach the fire deeper under the garbage. “This is in addition to the lorries already being used to move water from the nearby OHT to the fire engines,” the official said.