"Gasping For Breath" Near Delhi's Tallest Garbage Mountain

A regular issue in election manifestos and often the subject of political blame game, Ghazipur dumping yard has been a long-standing problem with residents around the area complaining of serious health hazards.

Asthma, recurrent chest infections, breathing difficulties and other respiratory illness are common in families living in the shadow of Delhi's tallest garbage mountain, Ghazipur landfill site, with frequent fires leaving them gasping for breath.

A regular issue in election manifestos and often the subject of political blame game, Ghazipur dumping yard has been a long-standing problem with residents around the area complaining of serious health hazards.

A fire at the dumping yard that broke out on March 28 could be doused over 50 hours, forcing the locals to stay indoors. While no casualty was reported in the blaze, a thick blanket of smoke engulfed the adjoining areas.

Jummal, a 55-year-old woman, who lives near the landfill site in East Delhi's Ghazipur, said she suffered from asthma and has had frequent respiratory infections for the last nine years.