A massive forest fire erupted in the Gangera Hill area of Udhampur district on Sunday in Jammu and Kashmir, causing widespread loss of lush green forest. Officials from the forest department have been working tirelessly to contain the fire since it was traced. Bharam Dutt Sharma, the block forest officer in Udhampur, said that the fire started early in the morning and that efforts to extinguish it were still underway.
"The fire erupted in the morning. Upon receiving the information we reached the spot and started dousing the fire. It is still going on,"
The fire has already razed a vast patch of forest, resulting in an estimated loss of crores of rupees in timber and other natural resources.
Another forest fire blazing in Udhampur
The situation is further exacerbated by another significant forest fire in Udhampur’s Daya Dhar area of Ghordi Block, which has been burning for the past three days. Despite continuous dousing efforts, this fire remains uncontained and has intensified. The Daya Dhar forest is home to a significant population of peacocks, and officials fear that the fire has caused considerable harm to them. Apart from peacocks, the fire has also impacted other wildlife species and the overall ecosystem of flora and fauna.
The fires in Udhampur district pose a severe threat to the environment, wildlife, and local communities. The destruction of vegetation and the release of harmful pollutants into the atmosphere have far-reaching consequences, including deteriorating air quality and potential health hazards for the local population. The disruption of ecosystems and loss of wildlife are also major concerns.
Bloc Development Council representative appeals IAF deployment
Local officials and community leaders have called for urgent intervention. Arti Sharma, the Block Development Council (BDC) representative for Ghordi, has appealed to the administration to deploy Indian Air Force helicopters to combat the fire in Daya Dhar. Highlighting the urgency of the situation, Sharma emphasised the presence of a large number of peacocks and other wildlife in the area, stressing that immediate action is necessary to prevent further damage to these creatures and their habitat.
The forest department and local authorities continue to battle the flames, but the scale of the fires and the challenging terrain have made containment efforts difficult. The local community is anxiously awaiting further support from the government and military to protect their homes and the region's rich biodiversity.
(With PTI Inputs)
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