Blaze erupts at Dadu Majra dumping site

A fierce fire broke out at the Dadu Majra landfill site on Saturday, around 5 pm, shrouding nearby residential zones in dense, choking smoke.

Advertisement

Driven by gusty winds, the flames quickly swept through towering mounds of waste. Nearly a dozen fire tenders from Sector 38 (nearest to the dumping ground), Sector 17, Sector 32, Ram Darbar and Manimajra stations were rushed to the scene to battle the blaze. Firefighters worked into the night to contain the flames, though smoke continued to billow from the site hours later.

The exact cause of the fire could not be established though such fire incidents are common in scorching heat.

The landfill, which sprawls across 45.11 acres, has a history of repeated fires, sparking ongoing concerns over environmental degradation and the health risks posed to nearby residents. Its close proximity to densely inhabited areas increases the danger manifold during such incidents.

Speaking on the challenges of tackling blaze at the site, a fire official explained, “The towering piles of waste make it extremely difficult to navigate and reach the source of the blaze. Even when we manage to put it out, the combination of summer heat and high winds often reignites the flames. That’s why it’s crucial that the garbage is removed regularly – these conditions make effective firefighting almost impossible.”

Earlier this year, the Punjab and Haryana High Court had ordered the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation to clear the landfill by May. However, the recent incident suggests that little progress has been made, with the deadline now having seemingly passed without significant action.

At the time of filing of this report around 10:30 pm, smoke could still be seen coming out of the dumping ground. The leading fireman at the site feared that there might be need to call more fire tenders (nearly five) to the spot and the operation would go well into the midnight.