Forest fire engulfs Gunda forest
Forest fire engulfs Gunda forest
8 February 2006
published by www.newkerala.com
Bellary, Karnataka — The 2,000-hectare Gunda forest adjoining Tungabhadra reservoir beside NH-13 was engulfed in a fire since yesterday morning.
The fire had destroyed about 800 hectares of forest wealth, mainly due to the callousness of the Forest Department staff.
Villagers were apprehensive that the entire forest would be ravaged if steps were not immediately taken to extinguish the blaze.
Pleading ignorance about the fire mishap, the forest department staff said they were not aware about the break out of fire.
The wireless facility at the forest department office, located near the forest area, had become defunct about a month ago and no efforts had been taken to set it right.
