Sulphur fire at Chennai Harbour spreads smoke

Chennai: A fire in a stockpile of sulphur powder inside the Chennai Harbour premises on Tuesday afternoon sent thick smoke across parts of north Chennai, causing breathing difficulties, coughing and eye irritation among people nearby. Firefighters brought the blaze under control within 15 minutes, and no injuries were reported.According to fire and rescue services officials, the sulphur powder that was stored on nearly half an acre of open land within the Chennai Harbour premises caught fire around 12.45pm. Officials suspect high temperatures and strong winds to have triggered the fire.The fire generated dense smoke that quickly spread beyond the harbour area. The smoke reached the vicinity of the Secretariat, Madras high court, Marina Beach and surrounding localities, affecting govt employees, advocates, court staff, visitors and members of the public.Many people reported breathing difficulties, persistent coughing, throat irritation and burning eyes. Passerby had to cover their faces with handkerchiefs to move through the affected areas. Elderly persons and children were most affected.Twenty firefighters from the Chennai Harbour, Esplanade and high court fire stations participated in the operation.G Sathyanarayanan, joint director of the fire and rescue services department, said firefighters had to carefully spray water on the burning sulphur to suppress the fire effectively while preventing additional risks.As the smoke spread across the area, fire tenders and ambulances were deployed as a precautionary measure. Officials are continuing to monitor the site and conduct an inquiry into the cause of the incident.