A major blaze erupted at the Ghazipur landfill site in east Delhi on Sunday evening, prompting a swift response from fire and police officials.
The fire was attributed to hot and dry weather conditions, sent plumes of smoke billowing into the air as firefighters worked tirelessly to bring the flames under control.
According to officials from the Delhi Fire Services, the initial call reporting the blaze came in at 5:22 pm, following which two fire tenders were immediately dispatched to the scene.
As the situation escalated, an additional six fire tenders were rushed to the site to assist in extinguishing the fire.
"Fires in landfills can burn for a long period. During night operations, our teams will be able to find more fire spots easily. We are still working to douse the fire and it may take time," remarked a fire official overseeing the operation at the site.
"We have cordoned off the area and cleared the road so that fire tenders can come easily. We are not allowing common people to stand there and to record videos," stated a senior police officer overseeing the security measures.
Delhi Mayor Shelly Oberoi reassured the public via a post on social media platform X, stating that the fire had affected only a small patch of the Ghazipur landfill site and that all necessary measures were being taken to contain it.
Meanwhile, Deputy Mayor Aaley Muhammad Iqbal, who was present at the scene, said, "After the fire incident at the Ghazipur landfill site came to light, I inspected the site. I gave instructions to the officials to control the fire soon. The fire broke out due to hot and dry weather," he remarked, highlighting the deployment of five excavators to aid in firefighting efforts.
The incident has reignited criticism from the opposition, with the BJP accusing the Delhi government of failing to fulfill its promise to clear the Ghazipur landfill site by December 31 last year.
The Ghazipur landfill has a history of such incidents, with previous fires in 2022 and a tragic incident in 2017 where falling debris claimed lives.
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