Major fire breaks out at Delhi’s Ghazipur landfill

Two fires at Ghazipur landfill in Delhi prompt political blame game, no casualties reported, ongoing efforts to douse flames.

Smoke and flames billow out of the Ghazipur landfill site where a fire broke out, in New Delhi on Sunday. | Photo Credit: ANI

Two fires broke out at east Delhi’s Ghazipur landfill site on Sunday evening, the police said.

According to the Delhi Fire Services (DFS), they received a call regarding the fire at 5.22 p.m. “Two fire tenders were pressed into service. Efforts are being made to douse the fire. Local police have been informed,” a DFS official said.

According to the police, no casualty has been reported.

Meanwhile, a political slugfest started between the BJP and the AAP over the fire. The BJP alleged that the AAP-led Delhi government had promised to clear the Ghazipur landfill site by December 31 last year but did not keep its word.

In a statement, Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor said that as a result of the fire, smoke has engulfed the entire area, causing inconvenience to residents and businesses.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had earlier promised to clear the landfill site by December 31 last year, before the 2024 MCD elections.

In 2019, the height of the Ghazipur landfill was 65 metres, only eight metres less than the Qutub Minar.

Three incidents of fire were reported at the Ghazipur landfill in 2022, including one on March 28 which was doused after over 50 hours.