Forest fire in Karnah brought under control

Srinagar: Ten days after it claimed the lives of two soldiers and injured two others, the devastating fire in Karnah forests of north Kashmir has been brought under control, officials said Monday.

Two soldiers Hawaldar Suresh Bahadur (belt no. 5451747 K) and Rifleman Vijay Gorej (belt no. 5457392 A) of 5/5 GR were charred to death and as many others sustained injuries in the wildfire that erupted near Bhijidar Post on Line of Control (LoC) in Tanghdar sector of frontier district on night intervening January 1 and 2. The fire had erupted in compartment number 31, 80% portion of which lies with Pakistan and compartment number 25, here, causing extensive damage to the forests.

We employed latest fire fighting equipments to douse the flames. However, without the help of local volunteers it would have been difficult to control the fire, Mian Javed (IFS) Conservator forests, north Kashmir, told GNS.

Extreme and prolonged dry spell is triggering wildfires. Forest floor is dry and huge stockpiles of needles of Deodar, Pines and Fir trees and dry grasses and bushes is the potential fire hazard in dry conditions, he added.

He said that the department was fully geared to meet all the challenges and it has been proved with effective control of the recent flames.

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Latest fire fighting equipments were employed and (the extinguishing) operation was supervised by Deputy Director Forest and range officers. However, words are inadequate to laud the work of over 150 volunteers, mainly youth for controlling it, he added.

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