Dharwad breathes easy as landfill inferno ends

Dharwad: The massive fire that broke out at the landfill in Hosayellapur on the outskirts of Dharwad, triggering panic among residents for the past four days, was finally brought under control on Thursday afternoon.Residents heaved a sigh of relief as cleaner air returned to the city after days of thick, toxic smoke that had engulfed nearly 50% of Dharwad.The fire reportedly erupted due to a chemical reaction triggered by extreme heat conditions at the garbage dumping yard. The blaze generated dense smoke, severely affecting air quality and causing widespread concern among the citizens.Angered by the situation, residents staged protests demanding immediate action from civic authorities. Responding to the pressure, Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC) deployed its staff along with fire and emergency personnel to contain the blaze. Firefighters worked continuously for nearly four days to douse the flames.Confirming the development, fire personnel said on Thursday noon that the inferno had been completely extinguished.Following this, mayor Jyoti Patil, deputy mayor Santosh Chauhan, floor leader Iresh Anchatgeri and HDMC commissioner Rudresh Ghali visited the landfill site and inspected the situation.Anchatgeri said the combined efforts of HDMC staff and fire personnel helped bring the situation under control.