Nagpur, India: The massive fire at Bhandewadi dumping yard, which started on Saturday afternoon, is still burning more than 24 hours later. Firefighters are struggling to control it, and officials say it may take a whole week before the fire is fully put out.

The fire has made garbage collection in Nagpur come to a complete stop. The city generates around 1,450 metric tonnes of waste every day. Usually, all of it goes to Bhandewadi. But now, waste is being sent to temporary sites near the SusBDe sewage treatment plant.

Two companies – BVG India and AG Enviro – are in charge of collecting garbage in the city. They use 400 vehicles and 187 garbage rickshaws. These vehicles are now being redirected, as Bhandewadi is not safe.

Firefighters have sprayed water on the burning mound and managed to stop the fire from spreading to nearby areas. Now they plan to cover the mound with soil to block the oxygen supply and kill the fire.

Even though the SusBDe plant and the nearby bio-mining facility are safe and still working, the thick black smoke from the fire is causing major health problems. The smoke is full of dangerous chemicals that can harm people’s lungs, skin, and overall health.

People living in nearby areas like Tulsi Nagar and Abbumiyan Nagar are the worst affected. They are breathing in the toxic smoke every day. These areas are home to poor families who already live in difficult conditions. Now, the smoke has made life even harder.

One resident, Rekha Ninawe, said, “The smoke is so thick, it feels like we are suffocating. My chest hurts every time I breathe. I worry about my children’s health.”

Fire officials say the blaze started in a small part of the garbage pile, possibly due to a spark and a sudden dust storm. The fire quickly spread because of the huge amount of plastic, cardboard, and untreated waste.

At first, firefighters wore regular N95 masks, but those didn’t protect them from the strong, toxic smoke. They had to leave the area until special masks – called M50 Joint Service Respirators – were brought in. These helped them return and continue fighting the fire, but it’s still difficult to breathe.

Experts say the smoke contains harmful gases like carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide, and dioxins. These are dangerous, especially for children, older people, and those with asthma or other health problems.

Doctors fear the fire could cause serious diseases if people keep breathing in the toxic air. The situation remains serious, and until the fire is fully out, the risk to public health continues.