Gurgaon Landfill Fire Finally Extinguished After Prolonged Battle
In Gurgaon, a persistent fire at the Bandhwari landfill site was ultimately extinguished following more than 50 hours of intensive firefighting efforts, culminating with rainfall on Friday evening. The smouldering waste, which had been emitting hazardous smoke, was completely doused by the natural intervention.
Officials Claim 90% Control Before Rain Arrived
Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon (MCG) officials asserted that they had successfully brought approximately 90% of the smouldering under control prior to the onset of rain, which then extinguished the remaining hotspots. Executive engineer Sandeep Sihag stated, "We were able to control 90% of the smouldering before the rain started and after rain, it has completely doused. We have issued notices to the agencies that were recently awarded work to process legacy waste at the site."
Throughout Friday afternoon, the landfill continued to emit significant smoke, with smouldering spreading laterally across sections of the dump even as fire brigades remained actively deployed at the scene.
MCG Takes Strict Action Against Contractors
The civic body has issued formal notices to two agencies responsible for waste processing at the site, giving them a seven-day deadline to explain why action should not be taken for breach of contract. Potential penalties include financial damages, contract termination, or even blacklisting of the firms, as outlined in the notices issued on Friday.
According to the notices, the fire initially broke out on Wednesday in an area under the direct control of the contractors. MCG cited "serious lapses in safety and operational protocols," suggesting possible negligence in multiple areas:
- Waste handling procedures
- Bio-mining operations
- Overall site management
The contractual obligations that were allegedly violated include requirements for scientific waste processing, maintenance of fire prevention mechanisms, deployment of adequate firefighting infrastructure, and compliance with Solid Waste Management (SWM) Rules, 2016.
Previous Warnings Ignored, Says MCG
The notice further referenced a specific directive issued on March 24, which instructed the contractors to strengthen their fire prevention measures at the landfill site. MCG claims these directions were completely ignored, terming this omission a "gross violation" of contractual obligations.
Officials emphasized that such incidents pose substantial environmental and public health risks, even during the smouldering stage, due to the continuous emission of hazardous gases and pollutants into the atmosphere.
Enhanced Surveillance and Response Measures Implemented
In response to the emergency, MCG commissioner Pradeep Dahiya implemented an immediate duty roster on Thursday to ensure continuous surveillance and rapid response capabilities at the landfill. This new arrangement includes:
- Senior officers assigned overall monitoring responsibilities
- Designated officers-in-charge overseeing operational response
- Assistant and junior engineers deployed in three shifts to maintain 24-hour vigilance
This enhanced response protocol was similarly triggered last year following a fire incident in April 2025. The current order mandates that officials remain physically present during their duty hours and conduct regular inspections of fire-prone and vulnerable areas. It also emphasizes ensuring the operational readiness of all firefighting equipment, including tankers and emergency response systems.
Contractors Directed to Submit Detailed Reports
The contractors have been formally directed to submit a comprehensive incident report that must include:
- The root cause of the fire outbreak
- A complete timeline of events
- Details of response measures taken
- A corrective and preventive action plan to avoid future incidents
The Bandhwari landfill fire incident highlights ongoing challenges in waste management and fire safety protocols at major landfill sites, with MCG taking a firm stance against contractors accused of negligence while implementing stricter monitoring measures to prevent recurrence.
