forest-fires-engulf-kathua-and-rajouri-in-j-k

As the heatwave across north India intensifies forest fires have engulfed Kathua and Rajouri districts of Jammu and Kashmir, causing significant damage to forest cover, officials said on Tuesday.

 

The fire started in the Dhara Dogano area of the Basholi belt in the Kathua district and quickly spread to regions close by.

 

It could only be controlled after several hours of firefighting by forest department officials and local residents.

 

Meanwhile, a fire also broke out in the Sawni Sassalkote area of Rajouri district, spreading to adjacent areas due to strong winds, triggering operations by forest department and forest protection force to control it .

 

Fire outbreaks have been reported in some areas of Rajouri for the past three days even as efforts are continuing to contain them. Despite the severity of the fires, no human casualties have been reported.

 

According to the fire service department, 10 to 13 fire incidents occur daily due to rising temperatures.

 

“The summer season is at its peak, and hence we are seeing such forest fires. To date, eight incidents have taken place," Balwant Singh, a forest department official, told reporters.

 

He said the department had established fire control rooms at different locations in the area to ensure accessibility.

 

"Our staff reaches the site on time. We have made fire control rooms at different locations to ensure accessibility; we are alert and taking action actively for the safety of the forest area," he said.

 

According to the MET Department, the phenomenon of forest fires is directly linked to the extreme rise in temperatures amidst the prevailing heatwaves in Jammu and Kashmir.

 

A MET official has reported that Jammu recorded a maximum temperature of 43.6 degrees C on Tuesday, which is 4.5 degrees C above normal for this time of the season.

 

Kathua emerged as the hottest town in Jammu and Kashmir, with a maximum temperature of 47.1 degrees C.

 

Earlier, the administration with the SDRF and Fire & Emergency Departments, had issued several alerts about the likelihood of forest fires in Jammu and Kashmir due to the hot and dry weather conditions.