Scrap worth Rs 30 lakh was reportedly destroyed after a massive fire engulfed a scrapyard at Guirim in wee hours of Sunday. It is learnt that the scrapyard is located not very far from a petrol pump. The fire was finally brought under control with the help of four fire-tenders after a massive operation that lasted nearly six hours. It must be said that scrapyards, many of which are illegal, are like ticking bombs. There have been several instances of fire breaking out at scrapyards at various places in the state. The reason for the severity of blazes at scrapyards often comes down to the significant amount of flammable material on site, and how and where it’s stored. The various inflammable items include tyres, wood and paper, oils and hazardous fluids, metals, car batteries, etc. but the biggest threats are the LPG cylinders which if burst can create problems. Several scrapyards are illegal. These scrapyards could be located in residential areas proving dangerous for the citizens. The government needs to come out with a policy decision on scrapyards in order to prevent any eventuality.
