Lakshmipura near Bangalore where soil catches fire

Bengaluru, July 21: In a bizarre incident, residents of Lakshmipura near Bangalore were surprised and shocked when water stored in utensils started boiling and soil caught fire at many places.

According to Indian Express, Lakshmipura residents while showing their anger to Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike's (BBMP) apathy started cooking rice and boiling egg in aluminium utensils by just lighting a match on the ground.

This phenomenon is happening just because presence of methane, a highly combustible gas beneath the area.
BBMP started dumping garbage in the area in 2012 which was stopped later and authorities piled layers of soil on it to flatten the earth.

"A big cylinder is lying beneath our village," a local resident was quoted as saying.

Over a period of time these garbage generated methane gas, which percolated through the soil, spreading all over. This has become boon for those who can not afford a cooking cylinder while bane for those who are doing farming in the area.

"Water is contaminated and unfit to drink. Bengaluru's garbage dump is proving a health hazard for us," another resident was quoted as saying.

"The disposal of garbage in an unscientific manner has resulted in the fires," said chairman of Mantapa Gram Panchayat.

Residents have reportedly complained to the tahsildar and the BBMP officials, however BBMP has denied receiving of any complaint.

According to expert, "When unsegregated waste dumped in a landfill site comes in contact with water, bacterial fermentation takes place. During this process, methane gas is produced. When the gas comes in contact with air, it has the tendency to catch fire. Biogas and gobar gas produced from mixed waste is combustible. This can happen in any landfill sites, including Mavallipura and Mandur."

OneIndia News