Ali Asad
Srinagar, Jun 3: Forest fires are raging uncontrollably across Jammu and Kashmir, causing extensive damage to property and wildlife in Udhampur, Kathua, Rajori, Reasi, and Poonch districts. The fires, spreading to new areas daily, have resulted in the loss of forest wealth worth crores of rupees and severely affected a significant number of national birds, including peacocks, and other wildlife. In some regions, the flames have encroached upon residential areas.
On Sunday, a fire erupted in the forests of Gangera Hill in Udhampur district. Udhampur Block Officer Bharam Dutt Sharma reported that the fire started in the morning. Despite efforts to extinguish it, the blaze remains uncontrolled. Preliminary estimates suggest substantial damage, with a large part of the forest reduced to ashes, causing losses amounting to crores in timber and other natural resources. A significant fire has also been burning in the Daya Dhar forests of Ghordi block for three days, spreading rapidly.
The Ardhakunwari area on the traditional route of the Maa Vaishno Devi Yatra, a fire broke out in Lambi Keri. It took four hours of relentless effort to bring the blaze under control. A school in the Dungu block of Rajori was also affected by the fire. Additionally, forests along the road leading to Salal Dam in Dhyangarh, Reasi, have been burning intermittently. In Kathua, fires are active in Ramkot, Bilwar, and Basohli areas. An appeal has been made to the administration to deploy Air Force helicopters to combat the three-day-old fire in the Daya Dhar area of Ghordi block, Udhampur. Meanwhile, two individuals responsible for starting a fire in Reasi have been identified.
In Rajouri, goods in a school were turned to ashes. The fire, which broke out on Saturday night, affected areas including Dungi, Grati, Bhangai, Tatapani, Kalakot, and Dhanaur forests. The fire continued throughout the night. As per the officials, the fire department personnel, along with the Forest Protection Force and Forest Department, managed to bring the situation under control by Sunday evening. However, the fire had already reached the Government High School in Jhalas area of Dungi block, damaging the school shed and destroying mid-day meal rations and other items. The Education Department will assess the damage on Monday.
In Reasi, a fire broke out near the main road leading from Bidra village to Salal Dam on Saturday evening, causing extensive damage to forest wealth. The fire was brought under control by night, and two individuals responsible for starting the fire have been identified. Another fire in the forest of Maadi village was also brought under control.
The Forest Department has been using loudspeakers to warn villagers not to set fires in the forests, threatening strict action against violators.
In Poonch, fires have been burning for several days along the Line of Control in the Salotri area. The fire has spread to the mining area, causing landmine explosions intermittently. The blaze originated from across the border and has since spread to this side.
Despite the widespread fires, the Maa Vaishno Devi Yatra remains unaffected. A fire broke out under suspicious circumstances at around midnight on Saturday in the Lambi Kerry area. Although the fire damaged a 200 to 300-meter area of forest, the pilgrimage continued smoothly without any interruptions.
