A thick haze accompanied by a strong foul odour spread across the Chennai Secretariat complex on Tuesday, triggering concern among staff and visitors.
Security personnel, Secretariat employees and members of the public reported coughing, eye irritation and breathing difficulty as the smoke lingered in the area.
Motorists passing through nearby roads also faced discomfort. Many suspected the smoke was drifting in from the Chennai port, as the haze continued for more than half an hour.
Fire and rescue personnel traced the source to sulphur that had been dumped near the port, which caught fire due to intense heat. Teams rushed to the spot and sprayed water to prevent further smoke release, bringing the situation under control.
Following the firefighting operation, conditions eased and those at the Secretariat said they felt relieved.
