Toxic fumes fill Delhi’s skies after vast landfill site catches fire

People stand next to the burning rubbish at the Ghazipur landfill site in Delhi, India, on Monday. Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters

Parts of a fire that broke out on Monday at a gigantic landfill site on the outskirts of Delhi known as the “mountain of shame” were still smouldering 24 hours later, choking local residents who have complained of breathing in toxic fumes.

Dozens of firefighters struggled to douse the flames at the landfill site in Ghazipur, due to its height and a lack of access roads.