A forest fire that broke out in the pine forests near Rajiana village, close to Nagrota Bagwan town in Kangra district, has escalated into a major blaze, triggering panic among residents in the surrounding areas. The fire, which began on Monday night, intensified significantly by Tuesday morning.
Responding to the situation, the district administration and Forest Department have deployed firefighting teams and resources to the affected area to control the fire. Efforts to douse the flames were on. Fire tenders were pressed into service and trenches were dug to control the blaze. However, officials say that a thick layer of dry pine needles on the forest floor is complicating firefighting operations.
Pine forests, which are widespread in the Dharamsala forest circle, are particularly vulnerable to wildfires due to their highly flammable foliage. These forests now cover an estimated 27,910 hectares, making up approximately 20 percent of the total forested area in the region. The dominance of pine trees is a result of decades of plantation efforts by the Forest Department, which favored pine for its high survival rate.
Forest officials suspect that the current fire, like many in the past, may have been human-induced, either through negligence or deliberate actions. Careless disposal of burning materials such as cigarettes or matchsticks is a common cause, especially in the dry summer season, where pine needle litter acts as fuel, allowing fires to spread rapidly.
The authorities are urging local residents to remain cautious and avoid entering forested areas while firefighting operations are underway.
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