Kerala: Schools, colleges closed, Windows shut, people asked to stay indoors, after smoke from Brahmapuram waste plant fire derails normal life in Kochi

The Kerala High Court on Tuesday said the port-city has become a “gas chamber” due to the toxic smoke generated by the fire at Brahmapuram waste plant and asked the authorities whether the blaze can be extinguished by Wednesday afternoon. On March 2, the Southern Naval Command said a massive fire broke out at the Brahmapuram waste plant in Kochi. Following the incident, more than 5,000 litres of water was sprayed on the same day, in the active fire zones of 110-acre yards in a bid to douse the fire. In the following days, 31 earth-moving machines and high-pressure water pumps were used to control the fire. Naval helicopters were also deployed at the site when the ground operations were ineffective due to the wind direction. However, it took about a week until the fire was controlled by Sunday.

The fire that broke out exactly a week ago is under control with patches of fire here and there now. But the smoke has clothed the skies of Kochi and nearby areas.

The firefighters and policemen are gearing up for the operation to douse the remaining fires.

The residents living close to the plant in Brahmapuram are furious at the situation they were thrown into. It's "corona wapsi mood" in the neighborhood.

Doors and windows are closed and people are staying indoors as they have been advised to.

Homes with small kids and the elderly have a tough task at hand.

Mivara, a UKG student, was busy playing on the phone when we met her at her home. Her grandmother, Sherly, said she was bored as she didn't get to meet her friends for a week.The educational institutions in the area are shut till Friday. "She is upset that she cannot go out and play. She starts coughing at night as the intensity of the smoke is really high around that time", said Sherly.

Experts say the impact of it could last a long time. And this adds to the misery of the residents.