A significant fire erupted at the municipal waste dumpsite managed by the Barnala municipal corporation, located near the Bathinda–Zirakpur national highway, on Friday. The flames were visible from a considerable distance. This incident occurred on the same day that sanitation workers called off their 16-day strike.
Details of the Incident
The dumpsite, situated on the outskirts of the town and close to agricultural fields, caught fire in the forenoon. Farmers in the vicinity spotted the blaze and alerted authorities, fearing it could spread to nearby fields. Fortunately, no damage to surrounding areas was reported.
Approximately 25 to 28 metric tonnes of waste is generated daily in Barnala and dumped at this site. At the time of the incident, an estimated 7,000 to 8,000 metric tonnes of garbage had accumulated at the landfill.
Official Statement
Barnala Deputy Commissioner Harpreet Singh, who also holds the charge as municipal commissioner, stated that the fire was likely triggered by methane ignition amid intense heatwave conditions. “We received information around noon when temperatures were high, and fire tenders were immediately rushed to the spot,” he said. He added that nearly 25,000 metric tonnes of legacy waste had been cleared from the site last year.
Context and Response
The fire broke out on a day when sanitation workers ended their prolonged strike, which had lasted over two weeks. The municipal authorities are investigating the exact cause of the fire and steps to prevent such incidents in the future.
