Fresh forest fire erupts at six places in Sikkim
Fresh forest fire erupts at six places in Sikkim
16 March 2009
published by www.zeenews.com
Gangtok, Sikkim, India — Six more incidents of forest fire have been reported from the state in the past 24 hours, including one at Tareybhir Wildlife Sanctuary in East district, officials said today.
Fire in the 51 sq km wildlife sanctuary at Tareybhir broke out late last night due to natural causes, forest officials said, adding that the forest guards and firemen couldn’t bring the inferno under control as the blaze had spread to several parts of the sanctuary.
The firemen have, however, brought under control two incidents of bush fire at Assam Lingzey and Ranka forests in East District which broke out early today, they said.
Efforts were on to contain two other razing inferno at Rangpo Sittey forest reserve and Pabing forest in East and South districts respectively.
Another forest fire was reported from Barsey Rhododendron sanctuary in West District damaging floriculture produces in an area of 200 hectares, the officials said.
This takes the tally of forest fire to 36 in the past one week.
Forest officials have attributed the spate in bush fire to the prevailing dry weather condition in the state since the past six months.