Umaisar Gull Ganie
Srinagar, Apr 3: Due to the ongoing dry weather and minimal snowfall, massive forest fires have broken out at several locations across Kashmir.
South Kashmir has witnessed a surge in forest fire incidents over the past few days, causing damage to the green cover.
More than 20 forest fire incidents have been reported in the past week alone, of which 18 have been controlled while others remain active, officials said.
They said that massive forest fires have erupted in Tral due to dry vegetation, spreading to Pinglish and other areas. Fires also broke out in Dadoo Marhama (Anantnag), Dachnipora (Pahalgam), and Khuwripora (Aishmuqam), affecting compartments 17, 21, 22, 50, and 58.
Large forested areas in Budroo, Sallar, Kullar, Dehvatoo, Mawoora, Grendwan, Reshkobal, Hapatnad, Wajoora, and Pendobal have been impacted.
A blaze in Andoo-Shangus (Anantnag) was controlled after strenuous efforts, while another fire raged in compartments 63 and 64 in Kokernag. A fire in Compartment 34V, Check Watoo Block (Vasho Range, Kulgam), has also been contained.
Mudasir Mehmood, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Anantnag, said that the Forest Department is working to extinguish the flames reported in the Kokernag range.
He said the department has the necessary basic equipment and has successfully brought 80% of the fire under control.
Conservator of Forests (South Circle) Arshdeep Singh said that in South Kashmir’s four districts, Anantnag and Pulwama have been mainly affected due to dry grass and the recent festival, as people visited forests, and due to their negligence, forest fires occurred.
Asked about the lack of manpower and equipment in the forest department, he said, “It is not like a house fire that can be extinguished with a fire extinguisher. A forest fire spreads over large areas, and dryness, temperature, and winds make it a more dangerous emergency situation. Only traditional methods work at such times. Our staff is working day and night to reach all sites, and manually we control the fire through traditional methods by making temporary fire lines and fire breaks. Sometimes, we tap it down, and it works. We also use technology, such as alerts from the Forest Survey of India through satellite imagery every six hours, to detect fire outbreaks. Our teams review and work on these alerts accordingly.”
Singh said that the media is playing an active role in spreading awareness among the common masses about how to prevent forest fires. “We are identifying miscreants responsible for igniting the fires, and strict action will be taken against them, as the government views this issue seriously since forests are public property,” he said.
He said that more than 20 fire incidents occurred in the past week in South Kashmir’s four districts, of which 18 have been controlled while the rest remain active.
Asked about the damage caused by these fires, he said, “Normally, it is a ground fire, and ground litter burns down. Big trees are not impacted due to their composition, while small saplings get damaged. The department conducts surveys and proposes plantations in such areas in the future so that the green forest is replenished again.”
