Varthur Lake catches fire, smoke engulfs neighbouring houses

Bengaluru: The Varthur lake in Bengaluru caught fire and the smoke was seen entering the nearby houses. Also, there is the danger of fire spreading to the residential areas. The actual reason for the fire is not known yet. The residents of Thubarahalli Extension in Varthur noticed thick smoke emanating from the Varthur lake on Sunday at 3.15 PM. The smoke filled the residential area in a short time and there were reports that the fire was seen at three different spots. Ashes and burnt leaves of trees were seen flying into the houses. The Varthur lake had earlier caught fire in March 2017. The residents said that the lake has caught fire many times but was not noticed by the administration as it was not on a large scale. Another lake in Bellandur had caught fire 11 times in 2018, clearly showing how the water bodies are not being maintained properly and are neglected by the administration.