A fire erupted in a stockpile of sulphur powder within the Chennai Harbour premises on Tuesday afternoon, generating thick smoke that blanketed parts of north Chennai. The incident led to breathing difficulties, coughing fits, and eye irritation among nearby residents and workers. Firefighters managed to bring the blaze under control within 15 minutes, and no injuries were reported, according to officials.
Fire Details and Response
The sulphur powder, stored on nearly half an acre of open land inside the harbour, caught fire around 12:45 PM. Fire and rescue services officials suspect that high temperatures combined with strong winds triggered the fire. The dense smoke quickly spread beyond the harbour area, reaching the vicinity of the Secretariat, Madras High Court, Marina Beach, and surrounding localities.
Government employees, advocates, court staff, visitors, and members of the public were affected. Many reported breathing difficulties, persistent coughing, throat irritation, and burning eyes. Pedestrians had to cover their faces with handkerchiefs to navigate through the affected zones. Elderly individuals and children were particularly impacted.
Firefighting Operation
A total of 20 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, explained that firefighters had to carefully spray water on the burning sulphur to suppress the fire effectively while preventing additional risks. As a precautionary measure, fire tenders and ambulances were deployed across the area. Officials continue to monitor the site and are conducting an inquiry into the cause of the incident.
