A major fire broke out at the Munnar grama panchayat’s waste treatment plant in Kallar on Wednesday afternoon, causing huge damage to the hill station’s waste management system. According to officials, the blaze began around 5 p.m. and spread rapidly through the facility, consuming both segregated and non-segregated plastic waste.

During the incident, a wild tusker “Padayappa” was foraging for vegetable waste near the plant. “The Forest Department’s Rapid Response Team (RRT) rushed to the scene and used firecrackers to move the animal to a safer area. The elephant is currently in a nearby Shola forest and is safe,” said Jayan J., head of the Munnar division RRT.

Munnar panchayat president Vijayakumar stated that a formal complaint has been filed with the Munnar police to determine the cause of the fire. “CCTV footage from the plant has been handed over to the police. Only a detailed probe can identify the actual cause of the sudden blaze,” he said.

Mr. Vijayakumar added that the fire resulted in massive losses for the panchayat. “The conveyor belts, machinery, and buildings were gutted,” he said.

While the panchayat had previously installed solar fencing to prevent wild elephants from entering the plant, sources say ‘Padayappa’ recently breached the fence. Other wild elephants have also been spotted camping in the area.

Despite being a premier tourism destination in South India, Munnar continues to struggle with waste management. The hill station generates eight to ten tonnes of waste daily during peak tourist seasons. Sources said that the panchayat spends approximately ₹11 lakh per month on the current system, yet a permanent solution remains elusive. “The panchayat is planning to hand over waste management to a private agency, as only a private entity can effectively manage the volume,” a source added.

Fire and rescue teams from Munnar, Rajakkad, and Adimaly eventually contained the blaze after several hours. “The fire has been fully extinguished. The Panchayat Assistant Engineer (AE) attempted to assess the damages on Thursday, but the effort was delayed due to extreme residual heat. A detailed verification of the total loss will follow,” Mr. Vijayakumar said.