[3] Due to the high level of air pollution after the fire in Ernakulam district, many people experienced cough, difficulty in breathing, headache, dizziness, eye discomfort and itching.
Many people and medias alleged that the situation was made worse by the failure of the authorities who did not take care to clear the garbage or prepare fire fighting systems despite giving accurate warnings.
In the early days, efforts were made to stir up the waste by using earthmoving machines and dousing the fire with water.
In the first days, 200 people of fire rescue service, 50 volunteers of civil defense, 35 corporation employees and police were engaged in smoke-extinguishing activities.
Demands were also raised for an independent probe into the scandal involving politicians, bureaucrats and the Sontra Infotech company.
Opposition parties alleged that the Sontra Infratech got the contract after a special intervention from KSIDC.
[11] Allegations were raised that a huge corruption took place in the Kochi Corporation under the guise of a garbage disposal contract, and that the contract was awarded to the children and sons-in-law of the leaders of political parties and the people of Kochi were the ultimate sufferers.