A significant fire erupted at the Ghazipur landfill site in eastern Delhi on Sunday evening, as confirmed by officials. They attributed the cause of the fire to the prevailing hot and dry weather conditions.
Witnesses observed plumes of smoke billowing from the dumping yard while firefighters worked diligently to control the blaze. A spokesperson from the Delhi Fire Services stated, “We received a report of the fire at 5.22 pm, and initially deployed two fire tenders to the scene. Subsequently, six additional fire tenders were dispatched. Firefighters are currently engaged in extinguishing the flames.” Additional fire tenders have been placed on standby for immediate deployment if needed.
“Fires in landfills have the potential to burn for an extended duration. Our teams will continue to work through the night to locate and extinguish any remaining fire spots. The operation may require considerable time,” commented a fire official present at the scene.
To facilitate firefighting efforts, the area has been cordoned off, and the road has been cleared for unhindered access by fire tenders. Authorities have restricted access to the area, prohibiting onlookers from gathering and recording videos.
In a social media post, Delhi Mayor Shelly Oberoi acknowledged the fire, stating, “A small section of the Ghazipur landfill site caught fire. All relevant officials are on-site, and the situation is under control.” Deputy Mayor Aaley Muhammad Iqbal, also present at the scene, emphasized the deployment of five excavators to aid in fire control efforts.
Meanwhile, the BJP criticized the Delhi government for its failure to fulfill its promise of clearing the Ghazipur landfill site by December 31 of the previous year. The party spokesperson, Praveen Shankar Kapoor, highlighted the adverse effects of the fire, which has resulted in widespread smoke, causing inconvenience to local residents and businesses.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had pledged to resolve the landfill issue before the 2022 MCD elections. However, instead of addressing the problem, the landfill continued to accumulate waste.
In 2019, the height of the Ghazipur landfill reached 65 meters, just eight meters shorter than the Qutub Minar monument. Additionally, in 2017, a portion of the garbage collapsed onto a nearby road, resulting in the loss of two lives. Three fire incidents were reported at the Ghazipur landfill in 2022, including a fire on March 28 that took over 50 hours to extinguish.