Surat : second massive fire at Khajod dump sparks pollution panic

Surat | Gujarat — In a shocking repeat of events, a massive fire broke out once again at the Khajod dumping site—South Gujarat’s largest waste disposal ground—engulfing the area in thick, toxic smoke and reigniting serious concerns over civic mismanagement and alleged irregularities.

The blaze, reported on Tuesday afternoon, is the second such incident in just 52 days, raising troubling questions about the effectiveness of preventive measures claimed by the authorities after the previous fire. Within minutes, the flames spread rapidly across heaps of garbage, sending towering plumes of black smoke visible from kilometres away.

Residents in nearby areas including Vesu, VIP Road, and Althan watched in alarm as the sky darkened with smoke. “The air has become suffocating. We can see smoke even from the main roads. It feels like the situation was never brought under control after the last fire,” said a local resident.

Fire brigade teams rushed to the spot and launched continuous operations to contain the blaze. However, officials admitted that the intensity of the fire posed a significant challenge, given the scale of accumulated waste and the presence of combustible materials.

The previous fire at the same site had raged for four days before being fully extinguished, drawing severe criticism of the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) for poor waste management practices. Despite assurances of corrective action, the recurrence has sparked public outrage.

“This is not just an accident—it reflects systemic failure. If fires keep happening within such a short span, it clearly shows that no concrete steps were taken after the last incident,” said an environmental activist.

The incident has also given fresh ammunition to opposition parties, who are expected to revive allegations of a “garbage scam.” Political circles are abuzz with claims that repeated fires may be an attempt to mask discrepancies in waste handling, including weight and disposal processes.

A senior civic official, however, defended the administration, stating, “All necessary fire control measures are being taken, and an inquiry will be conducted to determine the exact cause. Strict action will follow if negligence is found.”

Despite such assurances, citizens remain unconvinced. With crores spent annually on waste processing, repeated fires at the Khajod site are raising serious doubts about transparency and accountability.