Pune: Toxic Smoke from Burning Garbage Along Mula-Mutha River Sends MIT Students to Hospital in Loni Kalbhor

Loni Kalbhor, 28th February 2026: A prolonged fire at an illegal garbage dumping site along the Mula-Mutha riverbed in Loni Kalbhor continued for the second day on Saturday, filling the surrounding areas with thick, toxic smoke and forcing several students from a nearby educational campus to be hospitalised with breathing-related complaints.

The fire broke out early Friday in large piles of mixed waste dumped along the riverbank. Despite continuous firefighting efforts by the fire brigade with support from campus staff, the blaze could not be fully brought under control. By late Friday night, the fire intensified, releasing dense fumes that spread across residential areas and educational institutions nearby.

The MIT educational campus in Loni Kalbhor, which accommodates around 20,000 students from India and abroad, has nearly 5,000 students and about 1,000 staff members residing on the premises. As smoke engulfed the area, several hostel residents complained of breathlessness, burning eyes, throat irritation and dizziness. A few students experienced acute respiratory distress and were shifted to a nearby hospital as a precaution.

“The smoke was unbearable late at night. Many students felt suffocated and had trouble breathing,” said a hostel resident, adding that visibility inside the campus had dropped sharply.

The toxic fumes also affected road traffic, with reduced visibility reported on the Pune–Solapur highway during the early hours of Saturday. In view of the situation, one industrial unit in the vicinity suspended operations for the day, while the MIT campus declared a holiday to safeguard students and staff.

Local elected representatives and officials, including members of the Loni Kalbhor and Kadamwakvasti gram panchayats, Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti, along with police personnel, visited the site to assess the situation and review firefighting measures.

Residents said the incident highlights a long-standing problem of unregulated waste dumping along the riverbed. The Mula-Mutha river, considered Pune’s lifeline, has repeatedly been affected by garbage dumping and frequent fires, particularly in the rapidly growing gram panchayat areas of Loni Kalbhor and Kadamwakvasti.

According to local estimates, nearly 30 to 35 tractor-trolley loads of garbage are dumped into the riverbed every day due to the lack of a dedicated solid waste management facility. Over time, this has led to the formation of massive garbage mounds, emitting foul odour and posing serious health risks. Recurrent fires in these waste heaps have further worsened air quality in the area.

Environmental activists have warned that the problem extends beyond air pollution. They say leachate from the waste is contaminating the river water, endangering aquatic life and increasing the risk to communities dependent on the river.

Former Kadamwakvasti sarpanch Chittaranjan Gaikwad said the issue has been repeatedly brought to the attention of the administration. “We have submitted proposals several times seeking land for a scientific solid waste management project, but they are still pending with the authorities. If land is allotted immediately, dumping in the riverbed can be stopped and the environmental damage can be controlled,” he said.

Dr Mahesh Chopde, Registrar of MIT ADT University, described the situation as alarming. “Huge quantities of garbage have accumulated in the riverbed, and repeated fires are causing serious respiratory problems among students. Immediate intervention by the district administration is necessary to stop illegal dumping and establish a proper waste management system to protect public health,” he said.

Residents have demanded urgent action to prevent further dumping and fires, warning that unless long-term solutions are implemented, such incidents will continue to threaten health, education and the environment in the region.