A massive fire broke out around 9 am on Friday near the Mohali Bulk Market after heaps of garbage suddenly went up in flames, engulfing the entire area in thick, toxic smoke. The blaze, which continued to rage till late evening, left residents gasping for breath as the fire brigade struggled to bring it under control. Despite multiple fire tenders being deployed, officials had not managed to fully douse the flames by 8 pm, when this report was filed.

Local residents described a scene of chaos and suffocation, saying dense black smoke spread across the surrounding localities, making it nearly impossible to breathe. They alleged that illegal dumping of construction debris and waste had been going on in the area for months and accused unidentified persons of deliberately setting the garbage

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