Pune: Kharadi Residents Allege Unscientific Dumping After Fire Breaks Out at Proposed Park Site
Kharadi, 12th February 2026: A hazardous situation has emerged at a municipal park reservation plot near Nirmala School in Kharadi, behind the school and in front of Marvel Citrine Society, where dumped debris and waste have caught fire, filling the area with thick smoke for the past several days.
According to local residents, the plot had been used for some time as a dumping ground for debris and other materials, allegedly to level the land for a proposed public park. However, the dumped material has now ignited, turning the site into what residents describe as a “burning garbage dump” next to a residential complex and a school.
The Pune Fire Brigade has been trying to douse the fire for the last three days, but the flames have not been completely extinguished. Fire engines are still stationed at the spot, and the area remains covered in dense smoke.
Residents said they, including school-going children, have been forced to breathe polluted air for nearly 48 hours, raising serious health concerns. “This unscientific dumping has made the situation dangerous. We are stuck in smoke day and night. Children and elderly people are the worst affected,” a resident told Punekar News, requesting anonymity.
Locals have demanded immediate intervention from the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) to stop further dumping at the site, clear the hazardous waste, and ensure that the fire is put out permanently.
They have also urged the civic body to take responsibility for protecting the health and safety of people living in the Kharadi area and around Nirmala School.
As of now, PMC officials have not issued any formal statement on the incident. Residents say they will continue to follow up with authorities until concrete action is taken.
