Kottayam: A garbage pileup at a waste collection centre behind the Kottayam Medical College Hospital caught fire on Saturday sending massive plumes of black smoke into the air.

The fire was first noticed by the sanitisation workers at the Medical College who informed the authorities.

Soon after, two units of the Kerala Fire and Rescue Services arrived at the spot. Efforts are on to bring the blaze under control.

The fire started at around 2.30 pm on the waste materials collected and kept in plastic covers to dry near the collection centre.

Soon it spread to the centre. The staff at the centre, who were on lunch break at that time, noticed the flames and attempted to douse the fire with water, but in vain.

The MCH campus was covered in smoke. The cause of the fire is yet to be identified.

Though no casualties have been reported, the collection centre has suffered serious damage in the accident.