In pics | Fire and water: Garbage strewn around Bengaluru lake catches fire

Thick smoke enveloped Bellandur lake in Bengaluru after a fire broke out when garbage strewn around it was set ablaze.

Thick smoke enveloped Bellandur lake in Bengaluru after a fire broke out when garbage strewn around it was set ablaze.

The incident triggered panic among motorists on the busy Sarjapur main road.

“Usually, a pile of garbage strewn around the lake is set on fire, but yesterday it caused a scare among residents and motorists as the smoke started billowing and surrounding the lake in the evening,” KU Ramesh, deputy director at Karnataka Fire Department, said.

The fire was doused in half an hour, he said.

The environment ministry ordered an inquiry into the fire that broke out around Bellandur lake in Bengaluru.

Residents hit out at the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) officials for their “lackadaisical” attitude in stopping garbage dumping.

Karnataka State Pollution Control Board chairman Lakshman said notices have been issued to BBMP, Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewage Board and other agencies to stop the dumping.