Mumbai: Another blaze erupts at Mankhurd scrapyard, none injured

The fire was brought under control after more than four hours at 8.42 am.

A fire brigade official said the blaze was confined to seven to eight shops in the market, where different types of scrap material and electric installation, including empty chemical drums, were stored. The area has a one-acre scrapyard housing more than 1,000 godowns, most of them unauthorised, which store inflammable material and scrap such as oil and chemicals above the prescribed limit. Known as Kurla yard, it is leased out by the state government for the scrapyard, metal and paper marts.

In February, Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar had blamed the massive unauthorised storage of inflammable material for the repeated outbreaks of fire in the area.

According to the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act (Section 394), the owners of a godown have to obtain a trade and storage licence to use a structure as such. Authorities have to check if the godowns are storing combustible material and if it is within the prescribed quantity. If the quantity exceeds the limit, the owners have to be taken to court.

However, no action has been taken against the illegal godowns in Mankhurd.