- Causes health concerns for nearby villages
Bhopal: A fire has been burning in Bhopal’s largest Adampur Khanti for the last 24 hours, resulting in widespread smoke affecting surrounding villages. The smoke is visible even from Bhopal, located 10 km away, causing discomfort for local residents. Villagers are experiencing burning sensations in their eyes due to the smoke.
About three lakh tonnes of garbage have caught fire, impacting communities in Padariya, Bilkhiriya, Shanti Nagar, Samardha, Arjun Nagar, Haripura, and the Chhawani areas. Janpad member Santosh Prajapati said residents spent a sleepless night due to the smoke, which continued to permeate the area into the morning. The population around Khanti is about 12,000, and they are suffering from the smoke’s effects.
Smoldering resumed
The fire initially broke out on Tuesday at 1 PM and quickly escalated out of control. Although it was managed by nightfall, the smoldering resumed due to the excess garbage. As of Wednesday afternoon, smoke is still billowing from the site.
Bhopal produces about 800 metric tonnes of garbage daily. Experts say that the waste is not being fully processed, with dry garbage not being sent to the cement plant. This accumulation has led to the production of methane gas, which, combined with rising temperatures, sparked the fire that remains unresolved.
