Adding to the already deteriorating air pollution situation in the national capital, smoke was seen rising out of a waste mountain at the Ghazipur landfill site after a fire broke out early Wednesday morning. Several fire tenders were rushed to the site to douse the fire, as it spread to other areas in the landfill, PTI reported. 

The smoke from the fire has reportedly engulfed the area in east Delhi, with people reporting irritation in the eyes and breathing problems.

According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) mobile app SAMEER, on Wednesday morning, New Delhi witnessed air quality in the ‘severe’ category with an AQI of 401.

Stubble burning in Delhi’s neighbouring states like Haryana, Punjab, UP and Rajasthan caused the decline in air quality in the city, its share in the concentration of PM 2.5 increasing to 2.5% on Tuesday. 

The national capital’s air quality index (AQI) was in ‘severe’ category on November 15 but after that, it had improved and remained in either “poor” or “moderate” category until November 22.

While no injuries have been reported, the cause of the fire is yet to be determined.