Toxic smoke engulfs Gurugram as Bandhwari fire lingers

Gurugram: Two days after firefighters doused the flames at the Bandhwari landfill, the site continues to smoulder, blanketing nearby localities in thick, toxic smoke. The persistent fumes are leading to deteriorating air quality and have triggered widespread health concerns, particularly in areas surrounding the landfill. The blaze, which began on April 26, has consumed over 3.5 lakh litres of water so far. Despite round-the-clock deployment of fire tenders and civic teams working for extended hours, the fire’s after-effects remain unabated.

Smoke rising from a waste treatment plant on the Gurugram-Faridabad Road near Bandhwari village in Gurugram on Wednesday. (PARVEEN KUMAR/HT)

Adding to the crisis, another massive fire broke out at the Dhanwapur garbage dumping site near Khandsa at 3:30am on Tuesday. The blaze reduced nearly four acres of mixed solid waste to ashes and destroyed the makeshift homes of several ragpicker families. Residents, already struggling with foul air from Bandhwari, are now contending with the toxic haze from a second site. Despite repeated warnings to the authorities about the dangers of unchecked open dumping next to Khandsa Mandi and residential colonies, preventive measures were not enforced.