Four fire-related incidents were reported in the national Capital during the last 24 hours. In a major incident, a fire broke out at Bhalswa landfill site at 2 pm on Sunday, sending the Government machinery into a tizzy as the poisonous smoke billowing out of the landfill started to mix in the already hazardous air of Delhi.
Delhi Fire Service (DFS) official said after they received a call regarding the fire, around 6-7 fire tenders were rushed to the spot. “The fire was brought under control on Monday evening,” said the DFS official.
All the three landfill sites at Bhalswa, Okhla and Ghazipur have reached a saturation point (50 metres, while 20 metres allowed) almost 10 years ago, still keeping a blind eye to the tinderbox, authorities slept on mechanism to avert tragedy.
“About 2,000 tonnes of mixed garbage is dumped at the site every day,” a senior North Corporation official said.
Delhi produces over 9,500 tonnes per day (TPD) of solid waste, but all three of its dumping grounds, with a collective capacity of 4,600 MTD are operating beyond their saturation point and also posing “risk to human lives”.
In addition, it is expected that Delhi will need an additional area of 28 square km till 2020 to dump 15,000 tonnes of garbage daily.
In another incident, a fire broke out in the parking lot at Mori Gate on Monday. “No casualties were reported. A call was received about the fire at 10.30 am and three fire tenders were rushed to the spot. The fire was doused by 10.55 am,” said DFS official.
“A bus and a car in the Mori Gate parking area behind the Tis Hazari Court had caught fire,” said the DFS official.
Two other incidents were reported in the city on Sunday, including one in West Delhi’s Raghubir Nagar where a cylinder blast injured seven.
“A call reporting the incident was received at 8.20 pm on Sunday. The seven people suffered 50-60 per cent burns,” DFS official said.
One more incident of fire was reported on Sunday around 8.40 pm at West Delhi’s Moti Nagar where a dozen fire tenders were sent to extinguish the fire. “The situation is under control now,” said the DFS official.
