North Delhi's Bhalswa landfill continues to be ablaze more than 24 ho♔urs after it was first reported, with officials saying that it would take at least two more days to douse it completelꦰy.
E🐠ight firetenders are currently engaged in the fire-fighting operati♏ons, according to officials.
The massive fire broke out at the on Tuesday evening. Several videos showꦡed the fire churning out dense plumes of smoke and turning the sky grey. Fi♛re officials had said they received the information at around 5.40 pm after which 13 fire tenders were rushed to the spot.
Residents on Wednesday eveningꦏ said the plumes of thick smoke continuౠe to choke them.
A fire officer said, "The residents have started complaining of sore throat, itchy eyes and breathing problems. Curr꧑ently, eight fire tenders are working on the site. It will take at least two more days to douse the fire. Our teams are working round-the-clock to put it out."
The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained. However, another official said rising temperature leads to formation of methane gas at the such dump𒊎ing sites and this is "extremely flammable".
Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Wednesday 🐓blamed "corruption" in the municipal corporation for the frequent😼 fires at landfills in the city, saying the BJP-ruled municipal corporations should have used bulldozers to clear the mountains of garbage.
Gyan Sarovar School, a child resource centre for chilꦑdren of rag-pickers living near the Bhalswa landfill site, has been closed for a week.
Thrꦡee incidents of fire have been reported this year in east💦 Delhi's Ghazipur landfill site, including the one on March 28 which was doused after over 50 hours.
(With PTI inputs)
