In Mumbai: Fire in Charkop mangroves, third since February

Another fire was reported by residents at the Charkop mangroves on Sunday, making it the third such incident this year and 11th since 2016.

Another fire was reported by residents at the Charkop mangroves on Sunday, making it the third such incident this year and 11th since 2016.

This is the third fire since February.(HT)

Residents alleged that the fire was started around 5.30pm by unidentified persons at Sector-8, which is fenced by a wall, and soon gutted area measuring 50 metres. Fed up of recurring fires, the residents have set up a meeting with the suburban collector on Monday to raise their concerns.

On March 9, a fire engulfed half-a-kilometre stretch of mangroves in the same area. In the first week of February, a fire destroyed a number of mangrove trees and was doused two hours after numerous complaints were lodged.

“After Charkop resident Harjinder Garai spotted the fire, locals rushed to with fire extinguishers to douse it. While we managed to stop the fire at one location, it picked up at another and we had to inform the fire brigade,” said Mili Shetty, Charkop resident, adding that the fire brigade doused the fire within 30 minutes. “Miscreants are destroying the mangroves to build illegal hutments in the area.”

Fire brigade officials said there was garbage dumped at the site, which was causing fires incidents back-to-back . “Fires in quick succession have damaged 1,000 sq ft patch of the mangroves behind the compound wall,” said a fire brigade official.

Civic body officials were unaware about the issue and refused to comment.

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