Forest fire kills one
Forest fire kills one
31 March 2006
published by www.kuenselonline.com
Bhutan — The March 27 fire which has been raging along the Bartsham-Bidung gewog in Trashigang has killed a 66 year-old man. The fire was brought under control by village volunteers and forest officials yesterday.
The man was on his way to Bartsham when he was trapped by the fire, according to reports. About five houses have also been destroyed.
Forest officials in Trashigang said that another two people with severe burns were referred to hospitals in Trashigang and Mongar.
According to latest reports from the dzongkhag, the fire have again reignited this morning.
The fire has so far destroyed hundreds of acres of chirpine forest, according to forest officials. The actual extent of damage will be known only after the fire dies down and an assessment is done.
The district forest officer(DFO) told Kuensel that the cause of the fire was certainly man made.
According to the DFO, most people either started fire to enhance fresh growth of grass for grazing, to facilitate human and animal mobility or to scare away the wild boars that destroyed their crops. Lemon grass harvesters also made a better yield in the following season if the area was burnt.
