Since Sunday evening, a severe fire has been raging at the Ghazipur landfill site in Delhi, causing concern among local residents and authorities. The fire, which has been burning for approximately 12 hours, is producing large plumes of smoke visible from the dumping yard. In response, the fire department has deployed 10 fire trucks in an effort to contain and extinguish the blaze.
Initial Response and Escalation
The Delhi Fire Brigade was initially alerted to the fire around 6 PM on Sunday. Initially, two fire engines were dispatched to the scene. As the situation escalated, an additional eight fire engines were sent, with four specifically targeting the upper part of the dumping yard.
Causes and Concerns
Officials suggest that the fire was likely caused by the hot and dry conditions that exacerbated the decomposition process of wet waste, leading to heat generation and subsequent gas formation which ignited. Thankfully, there have been no reported casualties so far.
Impact on Local Residents
The smoke emanating from the heap of waste has significantly affected the nearby colonies, causing eye irritation and breathing difficulties among the residents. This has led to accusations of negligence towards the government and administration, as locals suffer the immediate health impacts.
Government and Fire Brigade’s Efforts
Firefighting efforts are expected to be challenging and time-consuming. Officials have indicated that while the fire can be visibly controlled, the landfill might continue to burn internally for an extended period.
The area around the landfill site has been cordoned off by the police, and roads have been cleared to facilitate the movement of emergency vehicles. Public gathering and recording at the site have been restricted to ensure safety and unimpeded access for emergency services.
Local Reactions and Official Statements
A local resident expressed to news agency ANI the difficulty in breathing and the unbearable stench emanating from the site, criticizing the government’s focus on elections rather than addressing such critical environmental issues. Meanwhile, Delhi’s Mayor Shelly Oberoi reassured the public via a post on social media platform X, stating that the situation is under control and that only a small section of the landfill site was affected. She confirmed that all necessary personnel are on-site managing the situation.