Panic gripped residents of Vaishalinagar near Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Garden on Wednesday morning after thick smoke began billowing out of five drainage chambers along the roadside footpath. Fearing a fire or gas leak, locals rushed to alert authorities.
Soon, teams from Ashi Nagar zone’s nuisance detection squad (NDS), the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), Pachpaoli police, and the fire brigade arrived at the spot. Firefighters sprayed water into the chambers to stop the smoke, while MPCB officials collected air samples for testing.
The source of the smoke was quickly traced to Super Chemical Supplier, a factory operating dangerously close to the residential colony. The NDS team imposed a ₹25,000 fine on the company for polluting the area. Zonal officials Sunil Tambe and Arun Pille confirmed the action and added that a formal complaint had also been lodged at Pachpaoli police station.
Regional MPCB officer Hema Deshpande and deputy regional officer Dhanshri Patil said further action would follow after chemical analysis of the samples.
Residents, however, are furious. They allege that the factory has been repeatedly polluting the neighbourhood with toxic fumes and chemical-laced wastewater, despite several complaints. “We don’t want a factory in our residential area. Authorities must shut it down immediately,” demanded local leaders Raju Chandekar, Basheerbhai, Vijay Khapekar, Madhu Meshram, Mahendra Shevde, Anand Shende, Motilal Naik, Bhaskar Parate, and Ashok Ganvir.
For residents, Wednesday’s smoke scare was not just an accident but a reminder of long-ignored hazards that continue to endanger their health and safety.
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