New Delhi: A massive fire broke out at the Bhalswa landfill site in North Delhi.
Highlight
- Smoke was first reported around 5 pm on Tuesday, which later spread to a huge fire.
- Locals living near Bhalswa landfill in Delhi are also complaining of shortness of breath
- Cause of fire is yet to be ascertained
The massive fire that broke out at Delhi’s Bhalswa landfill site on Tuesday is still smoldering. On Thursday too, fire tenders were present at the spot and efforts were on to douse the fire. According to Delhi Fire Service officials, smoke was reported around 5 pm, which later spread to a massive fire.
Locals living near the Bhalswa landfill in Delhi have also been complaining of shortness of breath since the incident.
“Residents have started complaining of sore throat, itchy eyes and shortness of breath. At present, eight fire tenders are working at the site. It will take at least two more days to douse the fire. Our teams are round the clock. Working hours. Take it out,” said a fire official.
The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained.
However, another official said rising temperatures lead to a build-up of methane gas at dump yard sites and it is “extremely flammable”.
Political allegations and counter allegations on Bhalswa landfill fire
Environment minister Gopal Rai on Wednesday blamed “corruption” in the municipal corporation for the continuous fire at landfills in the city, saying the BJP-ruled municipal corporations should have used bulldozers to clear mountains of garbage.
Meanwhile, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai accused the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) of negligence over the Bhalswa landfill fire.
The minister said that the Delhi government has sought a report from the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) on the fire incident.
“People of Delhi are facing landfill fire due to MCD’s negligence and BJP’s 15 years of corruption. We on Tuesday ordered the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) to investigate and submit the report within 24 hours. Will take a decision after taking a decision on the matter. His report comes,” Rai said.
Further targeting the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the minister said, “If they had worked on it, these mountains of garbage would not have been here.”
He said that BJP people should first go to Bhalswa landfill and survey what they have done in the last 15 years.
“If they had driven bulldozers there for 15 years, these mountains of garbage would not have stood today.”
(with inputs from PTI)
Read also | Delhi: Massive fire in Amar Colony of Lajpat Nagar area, 10 fire tenders on the spot