Fire ravages waste treatment plant in Munnar

A major fire broke out at the Munnar grama panchayat’s waste treatment plant in Kallar on Wednesday afternoon, causing huge damage to the hill station’s waste management system. According to officials, the blaze began around 5 p.m. and spread rapidly through the facility, consuming both segregated and non-segregated plastic waste.

During the incident, a wild tusker “Padayappa” was foraging for vegetable waste near the plant. “The Forest Department’s Rapid Response Team (RRT) rushed to the scene and used firecrackers to move the animal to a safer area. The elephant is currently in a nearby Shola forest and is safe,” said Jayan J., head of the Munnar division RRT.