Landfill fire envelops New Delhi in smoke
Residents of New Delhi have reported significant breathing difficulties following a vast fire outbreak at the city’s Ghazipur landfill. The incident caused large volumes of smoke to fill the air in the eastern district of the capital, prompting emergency responses. Excavators were deployed to the scene, attempting to mitigate the fire by removing heaps of waste. The Ghazipur landfill fire has drawn attention to the broader issue of landfill fires in India, highlighting the environmental and health hazards they pose. India, with approximately 3,000 landfills, faces challenges with waste management, leading to the accumulation of decaying waste. These landfills emit dangerous gases like methane, a known fire hazard and contributor to climate change, which can exacerbate respiratory conditions, asthma, and increase stroke risk. Efforts to control the blaze have seen some success, with reports indicating that the fire was largely extinguished. The New Delhi mayor has assured the public that the situation is under control and anticipates that the smoke will clear within a few hours. Nonetheless, the long-term impact of landfill fires on India’s environment and public health remains a significant concern. Decades of accumulated toxins have contaminated the water supply for thousands of people living in proximity to landfills, exacerbating the country’s struggle against high pollution levels.