India and Pakistan have been experiencing a record heat wave for several days. In New Delhi, where the temperature reached 44°C on Friday April 29, the situation is particularly alarming in the north of the Indian capital. A fire has been raging in a huge landfill for four days.
With our correspondent in New Delhi, Antoine Guinard
About forty firefighters were still trying somehow to put out the fire, Friday, April 29, on the site of the Bhalswa landfill, devoured by flames since April 26. Many videos broadcast by the Indian media showed thick columns of dark gray smoke rising above this veritable mountain of garbage, as there are several in New Delhi.
The regional government of Delhi has also imposed a fine of 62,000 euros on the municipal body in the north of the capital for gross negligence. Several residents of buildings around the landfill reported respiratory problems and eye and throat irritation. Disturbances due to smoke and toxic fumes caused by the fire and in particular the accumulation of methane in the middle of more than 200,000 m2 of waste.
This is the fourth fire to have broken out in a landfill in recent weeks in New Delhi, which is struggling to cope with its worst heatwave in 70 years for this time of year.