India, Jan. 12 -- Twin large waste fires spread over several acres within a one-kilometre radius alerted district authorities in Gurugram and Nuh during one of my final assignments of 2025. The fires, which broke out within less than 24 hours of each other on December 16 and 17, were traced by residents to a deserted plot inside a crusher zone (stone processing) near Naurangpur in Manesar. The sequence of events felt dramatic, almost cinematic, but there was no script. Only real people dealing with real consequences.

I reached Bar Gujjar village as smoke still hung in the air. Locals pointed towards the source of the blaze while continuing with their routines. Undulating hills stretched around us, coated in silica sand blown from stone c...