A view of the damaged, unclaimed vehicles that were gutted in fire that broke out at a dumpyard located off Velachery-Tambaram High Road in Madipakkam, Chennai on June 4, 2026
| Photo Credit: B. Velankanni Raj
A fire broke out in a stockpile of plastic waste kept at an old dump yard in Pallikaranai, falling under Perungudi zone of the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC), on Thursday morning.Thick plumes of smoke billowed from the site, triggering panic among motorists and commuters during morning peak traffic hours. Abandoned and auctioned scrap vehicles were also parked in the area where the fire occurred.Following information about the incident, personnel from the GCC, Tamil Nadu Fire and Rescue Services Department stations in Velachery and Guindy, and the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board were mobilised, and firefighting operations were launched, according to a press release.Nine water bowsers, three recyclers, three earth movers, and 30 tanker loads of water were deployed to contain the blaze. The fire was brought under control and completely extinguished around 11 a.m., the release added.Traffic affectedThe area where the fire broke out is being monitored. The exact cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained. Traffic movement on Velachery-Tambaram High Road was affected due to the smoke and the emergency response operations.Corporation Commissioner G.S. Sameeran, Joint Commissioner (Health) V.P. Jeyaseelan, South Regional Deputy Commissioner Aftab Rasool, Sholinganallur MLA P. Saravanamoorthy, and officials from various departments were present at the site.Past incidentsThe Pallikaranai dump yard has witnessed several incidents of fire in recent years. In August 2025, a fire broke out at the Perungudi dump yard, sending thick smoke across surrounding neighbourhoods and requiring an extensive firefighting operation.Earlier, in April 2022, a blaze at the Pallikaranai dump yard burned for several hours before being brought under control.— The Hindu - Chennai (@THChennai) June 4, 2026 Published - June 04, 2026 12:31 pm IST
