Over 5000 Army personnel pushed to douse Bellandur lake fire

Bengaluru : More than 5000 Army personnel are putting efforts to douse the fire that broke out in Bellandur lake and started spreading into the Iblur firing range.

Massive smoke rising from high flames were spotted in the morning after which fire tenders rushed to the spot but most of the area where remained inaccessible due to no roads.

As per reports, the fire is believed to have started from the grasslands by the banks of the massive lake. Later, it was found spreading into the army land.

“The fire, which had come up to the perimeter of the army land, has been put out due to the untiring efforts of more than 5,000 army personnel and firefighting equipment of the ASC College and Centre,” said a statement by the defence forces. The personnel were led by Major General N.S. Rajpurohit, Deputy Commandant and chief instructor, ASC College and Centre.

Spread over 1,000 acres near the infotech hub, the lake is highly contaminated receiving 60 per cent of the sewage generated in the city. The lake is in bad shape despite the National Green Tribunal pulling up the government and its various agencies for failing to prevent pollution and not doing enough to restore the lake to its pristine glory.

Bengaluru Mayor R Sampath Raj said the fire seems to be an outcome of the accumulation of chemicals.

The water samples will be collected and tested to find the reason behind the fire, he said.