Forest Fire Rages in Bandipore
Forest Fire Rages in Bandipore
6 November 2009
published by www.kashmirobserver.net
India — A major fire has devastated a large forest area in North Kashmirs Bandipore district during the past four days, reports said.
Reports and eyewitnesses said that the forest fire raged in Patuwan area of North Kashmirs Bandipore district on Sunday, The fire, sources said, spread to the Gorihajan forest area spread over an area of six kilometers during the past three days. Due to the fire, sources said, hundreds of trees have been damaged. The wild life too, sources said, were facing threat due to the fire that is spreading rapidly.
We witnessed the fire in Arin forests on Monday. It seemed, as the whole forest area had caught fire, Bashir Ahmad, a local said.
The forest officials seem to be unaware of the fire. Had they been aware, the fire would have been under control by now, he added.
Chief Conservator, Shafat Ahmad confirmed that the fire has raged in the higher reaches of Arin forest area of Bandipore. However, he said, his men have started operation to control the fire and to stop it from spreading further.
We have deputed our team to the affected areas to control the fire. We need the support of locals to control the fire, Ahmad said, adding Dry weather conditions triggered forest fire.
