A massive fire broke out at an illegal dumping ground in Sector 21 on Saturday evening, raging for nearly five hours, fire officials said. The fire broke out around 9:30 p.m. on Saturday and continued to intensify until 2:30 a.m. on Sunday, posing a direct threat to a nearby shopping center and around 300 houses, they said, adding that no injuries were reported .

Gulshan Kalra, deputy director (technical) of Haryana Fire Services, warned residents of the affected area to follow safety advisories, referring to Sector 21, adding that the cause of the fire is not not yet known. “Our teams worked tirelessly to bring the fire under control; we had sent at least 12 firefighters and there were no casualties thanks to rapid action. We urge residents to stay away from the affected area and follow safety instructions,” he said.

Residents report that the response from the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) and Haryana Shahari Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP) has been insufficient, with authorities carrying out only a limited campaign to dismantle some storage places in the wake of the fire. They alleged that this violated the mandates laid out in the Punjab and Haryana High Court guidelines regarding waste management and security in areas close to residential areas.. Certainly, the High Court guidelines state that landfills located in residential areas must be managed and monitored strictly to prevent health hazards and fire hazards.

Prakash Lamba, president of Sector 21 RWA, expressed concerns over the lack of prior action by the authorities against the illegal dumping grounds. “While firefighters worked tirelessly to bring the blaze under control, the lack of preventive measures from the authorities is concerning. Our community has repeatedly expressed concerns about unsafe conditions at the landfill, but little has been done to address them,” he added.

Meanwhile, KL Sharma, general secretary, RWA, said, “The fire broke out around 9:30 p.m. and it took nearly five hours, till 2:30 a.m., to bring it under control with the help of 35 water and fire tankers. It was a heartbreaking experience for all of us.

Community leaders and residents are now urging authorities, including the local MP, Commissioner of Police, Deputy Commissioner and Commissioners of the MCG and HSVP, to take immediate and coordinated action to prevent future incidents at the landfill. “There are other illegal dumping sites in the landfill. the neighborhood which also violates the norms. If the authorities do not act immediately, these areas will remain ticking bombs,” said Neeru Yadav, a resident.

In response, outgoing Gurugram Deputy Commissioner Nishant Kumar Yadav said, “We are aware of the situation and are coordinating with relevant agencies to ensure that the fire is contained quickly. The safety of our residents is our top priority.