Bengaluru fire: lake burns yet again; situation controlled

In any other part of this world, it would have been a shocker, but not anymore for the residents of Bengaluru.

The infamous Bellandur Lake caught fire yet again on Friday.

Tense moments prevailed in Bellandur and surrounding areas all through Friday afternoon after a fire started on the severely-polluted 800-acre lake. When the situation turned worse towards evening — with flames spreading to more places —over 5,000 army personnel were pressed into action to douse the fire. 

Even those who live several kilometres away from the lake could see smoke billowing from the lake. Residents say the fire was first spotted at 10 am which then spread from one place to four places. 

“I can still see flames and black smoke. This is even ten hours after we complained to the officials. What is worrying is that the fire is spreading to more places,” Seema Sharma, a resident of Bellandur told a national newspaper  at 9 pm. “We first took it casually as it’s not the first time that the lake has caught fire. When it continued, we were all in for a shock,” she added. 

READ ALSO: Bengaluru fire still uncontrollable even after ten hours: Firefighters still fighting with fire

The outbreak of fire was such that it spread towards the Army Area. “The fire which had come up to the perimeter of the Army location has been put out due to the untiring efforts of more than 5000 army personnel and fire fighting equipment of the ASC College and Centre. Army personnel are still on alert to prevent its spread into army and adjoining civil area,” the official release from the army stated. 

The army prevented it from spreading it to the civilian pockets. As a precautionary measure, fire extinguishing vehicles were parked next to several apartments that are located close to the lake. 

Seema Garg, CEO of the Karnataka Lake Conservation and Development Authority, denied that the lake had caught fire. “It’s the grassland adjoining the lake that was on fire. Some were creating panic that the fire was due to the presence of methane in the lake. It was due to dry grass,” she said.

In February, the National Green Tribunal had taken the government agencies to task when fires were reported in the Bellandur lake. However, the lake continues to be fed with sewage and is not maintained. This is the fifth time since 2015 such an incident has taken place.