Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, May 12: A dangerous blaze fueled by chemical and industrial waste continued to burn for a second straight day at an abandoned laterite quarry in Chanimol, Sanguem, raising serious environmental and health concerns across the region. Despite ongoing firefighting operations, thick plumes of smoke and a pungent chemical odor have reached nearby villages, including Costi, leaving residents grappling with respiratory distress and eye irritation.

Authorities have mounted a full-scale response, with top officials including Deputy Collector Milind Velip and Mamlatdar Siddharth Prabhu coordinating efforts alongside personnel from the Fire Department, Health Services, Police, and the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB). Air quality monitors have been deployed to assess pollution levels in real-time, as the toxic fumes continue to pose a threat to public health.

Local residents, particularly vulnerable groups like children, the elderly, and pregnant women, have been evacuated for the second day in a row. Villagers fear long-term exposure to the smoke could result in serious health complications and are demanding urgent medical check-ups and transparency about the substances involved.

Efforts to suppress the fire have included using JCB machines to cover the burning waste with mud, but the flames remain active, fueling concerns of prolonged environmental damage. The situation has also unearthed a deeper issue—illegal dumping. At least two other abandoned quarries in the area have reportedly been used as unregulated chemical waste dumps.

Outrage is growing among villagers, who are calling for a full investigation into the source of the waste. Labels found among the burnt debris suggest that the materials may have come from the Verna Industrial Estate, though officials have yet to identify who transported and dumped them without clearance. There are increasing demands for accountability, including legal action against the owners of the quarries being misused for hazardous disposal.

“We deserve to know what we’ve been exposed to,” said Amar Naik, a resident of Costi. “We need health screenings for our children and the truth about these chemicals.”

With the fire still smouldering and no clarity on the exact composition of the waste, pressure is mounting on authorities to act swiftly—not just to extinguish the flames, but to prevent further environmental abuse and protect public health.