Deonar fire continues to choke residents

The residents near the Deonar dumping ground continued to suffer for a third day in a row on Tuesday, as the poisonous smoke engulfed the entire area, affecting the air quality and making it difficult to breathe.

"The poisonous smoke makes the children suffer. We have complained before also, but the government did not take any step. We are very much disturbed with this. The smoke can cause heart diseases and cancer," Mohammad Ali, a local told ANI.

Another resident, Ghulam Mohammad, complained of a burning sensation in the eyes due to the toxic inferno.

"There is a company beside the dumping ground, which is refusing to move from there. The children and the old suffer a lot for this," said another local," he added.

The Mumbai fire brigade is trying its best to control the fire at Deonar dumping ground.

According to the fire control room, 12 fire engines and nine tankers are still trying to cool down the fire.

Seniors fire officials are present at the spot to monitor and control the situation.

The fire that broke out in the wee hours of Saturday is the second such fire in the same dumping ground in less than two months.

The first major fire at the dumping ground this year broke out on January 28 and lasted an entire week.

Even as cooling operations are underway at the dumping yard, toxic smoke surrounded the area and people complained of discomfort due to the smoke.

The smoke is visible from as far as Vashi bridge in Navi Mumbai. No casualty was reported in the incident.

However, the huge blanket of smog has made it difficult for fire control officials to get control of the fire.