27-04-2025
Fire at Mohali garbage dump chokes residents
A major fire broke out early on Saturday at an illegal garbage dump along N-choe river near Sector 66, Mohali.
Toxic smoke engulfed Sectors 66, 82, and surrounding areas in no time. Students and scientists from prestigious institutions such as ISB and IISER werealso affected.
Sources said that though fire tenders were alerted around 1,30 am, even till afternoon the fire remained largely uncontrollable. By that time around 20 fire tenders were deployed.
Gursewak Singh, sarpanch of Mauli village, accused the civic body of failing to prevent illegal dumping and pollution.
Assistant Commissioner Ranjeev Kumar reached the site around 7.30 am along with his team and initiated efforts using JCB machines to cover the burning garbage with soil.
At 11 am, Mohali Mayor Amarjit Singh Sidhu, Senior Deputy Mayor Amrik Singh Somal, and other officials conducted a site inspection. Ward No. 24 (Sector 66) councillor Charan Singh told the Mayor that illegal dumping had been ongoing in the river for the past month.
Charan Singh said, 'We tried several times to stop it, but the gabage collectors kept dumping waste.' Jeevan Singh, a resident of Sector 66, said, 'The entire area was engulfed in smoke and we were facing difficulties to breathe. When I stepped out, all I could see was smoke.'
As residents Jagdish Kumar and Jaswinder Singh demanded an immediate halt to dumping in the riverbed, the mayor assured, 'We will ensure that no garbage is dumped here again. From today, garbage dumping will be completely banned, barbed wire will be installed, and a guard will be posted to prevent further dumping.'
Assistant Commissioner Ranjeev Kumar said, 'Garbage was scheduled to be cleared from the dump using Poklan machines, and three large truckloads have already been sent for processing. We were planning to finish clearing the site within the nexrt 2-3 days. Today's fire might have been caused by some mischievous elements. Every possible effort is being made to bring the situation under control.'
