Photos: Massive fire breaks out at a scrapyard in Mankhurd, one firefighter injured

A major fire broke out at a scrapyard in Mankhurd’s Mandala area on Friday afternoon. The Mumbai Fire Brigade has identified it as a Level-3 fire. Photo by KK Chaudhary/BCCL

According to preliminary information, the incident took place at around 2:30 pm. The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained. Photo by KK Chaudhary/BCCL

Thick plumes of smoke surrounded the region as a result of the fire in the scrapyard. Eleven fire tenders were immediately rushed to the spot. The fire engines are currently trying to douse the fire. A fire officer (40-year-old Harish Nadkar) has been injured during the operation to douse the fire. His condition is said to be stable. Photo by KK Chaudhary/BCCL

All buses plying from Chheda Nagar and Shivaji Nagar towards Mankhurd and Vashi have been diverted via Amar Mahal, Chembur Naka, VN Purav Marg to Maharashtra Nagar from 4:15 pm, a BEST official said. Photo by SL Shanth Kumar/BCCL

Mankhurd fire has resulted into a congestion on Eastern Express Highway between Chheda Nagar and Sion and on Santacruz-Chembur Link Road. Photo by SL Shanth Kumar/BCCL

"The blaze erupted in a scrap material godown. It is a 'level-3' (major) fire. Eleven fire engines and as many tankers are currently engaged in the firefighting operation," a fire brigade official said. The fire has been on for over three hours now. Photo by KK Chaudhary/BCCL

It took officials 20 gruelling hours to douse the massive blaze. In the process, fire officer Harish Nadkar (40) was left injured and was rushed to the Shatabdi Hospital at Govandi. Photo by SL Shanth Kumar/BCCL

The area was mostly inhabited by daily wage labourers, who fled once the fire broke out. Local residents told ANI that this is not the first time that this place has caught fire. There were numerous godowns in the area that store used oil, which acts as fuel for fires. Photo by SL Shanth Kumar/BCCL

Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar had earlier visited the spot to take stock of the situation. He said, “Complaints had been registered with the collector office by the civic body's K-West ward officer and local corporator from time to time about the illegal storage of oil barrels at the place.” Photo by SL Shanth Kumar/BCCL