A significant fire broke out at the Burhanpur municipal corporation's trenching ground late on Friday, engulfing tonnes of accumulated waste that had remained unattended for years due to the lack of a proper disposal process. The incident resulted in thick smoke spreading across the surrounding areas on Saturday morning, causing inconvenience to nearby residents. The trenching ground serves as the primary disposal site for the daily waste generated by Burhanpur city.
Cause of the Fire
Local authorities suspect that the prevailing high temperatures, currently reaching approximately 42 degrees Celsius, may have triggered the blaze. No significant damage or casualties have been reported, and officials have characterized the fire as a routine incident under the current weather conditions.
Waste Accumulation and Remediation Efforts
According to Additional Commissioner Swarnika Verma, the facility currently holds approximately 1.97 lakh tonnes of accumulated waste. She stated, "Around 2 lakh tonnes of legacy waste has already been remediated." The civic body aims to dispose of the remaining waste within the next few months. Verma added, "Refuse-Derived Fuel (RDF) generated from the remediation process is supplied to cement factories."
Impact on Residents
The smoke from the fire caused discomfort for residents in the vicinity, though no evacuation or health emergencies were reported. Officials are monitoring the situation and have assured that measures are being taken to control the blaze.
