2 sq km of Khajod dumpsite ablaze, smoke blankets SDB

Surat: Thick clouds of smoke over the Surat Diamond Bourse on Tuesday afternoon were the first sign that something had gone badly wrong at the Khajod waste disposal site. A fire had broken out in stockpiles of refuse-derived fuel (RDF) stored at the dumping ground, spreading rapidly over an area of roughly two square kilometres due to the strong wind. Twelve firefighting vehicles and SMC teams were deployed but could not contain the blaze by late evening. The smoke was visible from kilometres away, triggering concern among citizens. Within minutes videos of it were shared widely on social media. Residents of surrounding areas and those working near Surat Diamond Bourse expressed alarm at the scale and intensity of the smoke.According to SMC officials, the blaze started in refuse-derived fuel (RDF) stored at the site, and it spread due to strong wind. RDF is prepared from segregated waste and supplied to industries as fuel. Officials said as it is highly flammable, the strong wind helped the fire spread rapidly. Firefighters and SMC workers dumped soil around the affected parts to stop the spread of the fire. "The firefighting is ongoing and due to the large area, it will continue for a while," an SFES official said. How the fire started is not yet known. An SMC official said, "It is not possible for someone to climb on the mound and light a fire. The fire probably started due to some inflammable material burning due to the summer heat, or a chemical reaction within the waste."The fire has put a spotlight once again on a recurring problem. Fires at the Khajod dumpsite have become a pattern, and those living and working nearby are growing concerned about the health and environmental risks from the toxic smoke.