Toxic Smoke Spreads As Fire Rages At Mumbai’s Deonar For Third Day

A fire that broke out at Mumbai’s Deonar dumping ground in the eastern suburbs of the city on Saturday evening is still raging. This is the second massive fire in the area in less than two months.

Ten fire engines have been stationed at the spot as fire officials try to douse the blaze.

The fire intensified on Sunday evening and spread to two-three square kilometers. As toxic smoke engulfed the area, residents complained of discomfort and breathing problem.

Smoke was visible from as far as Vashi bridge till the end of the Ghatkopar-Man-khurd Link Road.

A massive fire had broken out at the city’s biggest dumping yard, spread across 326 acres, on January 27. It was brought under control after seven days of round-the-clock fire-fighting.

Government schools in central Mumbai’s Shivaji Nagar and Deonar were closed for two days due to thick smog caused by the fire.

Experts blame the lack of waste management policy and crammed dumping yards in Mumbai’s municipalities for the Deonar fire.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had on February 2 promised to take steps to tackle the problem of recurring fire at the dumping ground. He had said two fire engines would be stationed at Deonar, but residents of the area say on March 19, when the fire broke out, they had to call fire officials to alert them.

“We only get assurances from the government but see no action,” said Mushtak Khan, a resident of the area, adding that locals want the government to locate the dumping ground elsewhere.