Cornfield blaze causes fire scare at Bypass housing complex
Times of India | 7 April 2025
12 Kolkata: Residents living in a posh residential housing complex on EM Bypass experienced a major scare after a fire broke out in a cornfield next to their complex. The fire was swiftly escalating towards their complex boundary before firemen and security guards from the complex intervened and jointly stopped the fire's escalation.
The incident occurred at Mathpukur off EM Bypass, behind the Silver Spring housing complex, around 2 pm. The fire raged for two and a half hours as five fire tenders were called to bring it under control.
"It was extremely scary. The flame was leaping, and with the wind blowing towards our complex, the fire was escalating rapidly towards our complex premises. We called the fire brigade, and our own security guards worked tirelessly for over two hours to prevent its growth," said a complex resident.
Residents took photos and videos of the incident and shared them on social media, sending them to senior officials in the administration to seek immediate attention.
"We initially sent two fire tenders. But since the fire was escalating at a fast pace, we sent three more fire tenders. The fire was finally brought under control around 4.30 pm,"s said a fire official.
The officials said farmers were burning some dried corns and garbage in the field when the fire went out of control. TOI has written in the past about stubble burning in the Mathpukur and Dhapa areas, with plumes of smoke rising from vacant plots behind the JW Marriott hotel that often engulf stretches of EM Bypass and residents living at Silver Spring. The vacant plots carry heaps of garbage, which are often set on fire.
Burning solid waste and stubbles in the open releases particles that float in the air and add to the air pollution of that place. The particles include PM2.5 and PM10, both of which are major sources of air pollution in Indian cities, including Kolkata.
"We have time and again complained about stubble burning in this area. Air pollution is anyway more in our complex compared to other parts of the city because of the proximity to Dhapa. We have informed the local councillor and local police station a number of times but with little effect," said another resident of the complex.