J-K: Forest fire erupts in hills near Katra, firefighting op underway
Katra, June 11
A forest fire that broke out in the hills near Katra has been largely brought under control after intensive firefighting operations by multiple agencies.
Fire and Emergency Services personnel, along with teams from the Forest Department and local volunteers, have been working round-the-clock for the past 2-3 days to extinguish the blaze.
Speaking to ANI, Forest Inspector Arun Sharma said that the fire reportedly reignited multiple times, including during the night, despite being doused in the evening.
"Three to four teams are working in different sectors, putting in their full effort to extinguish the fire... We have been here for 2-3 days. A fire broke out yesterday as well; we extinguished it in the evening, but the fire reignited during the night. We brought it under control again at night... It is largely under control now; we will bring the remaining under control very soon," he said.
More details awaited.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Respect for the fire teams risking their lives on those slopes. But I'm worried—this is the second time in 2-3 days they've had to douse it. Is there no permanent solution? Climate change is making summers hotter, we need better preparedness.
As someone who visited Katra years ago, I know how dry the hills can get. It's good to see the local community joining in with the authorities. That kind of unity is rare and inspiring. Hope the last hotspots are put out fast.
🙏 So grateful for the tireless work of Forest Inspector Arun Sharma and his team. The way they fight these wildfires with limited resources is admirable. But I hope the state government allocates more funds for forest fire prevention—drones, early warning systems, more fire stations. We can't keep reacting after the damage is done.
Important news coverage of a real problem in our hills. The teams must be exhausted from 2-3 days straight on those steep slopes. My only concern is whether enough water sources and aerial support were available. We need to learn from this for next summer.
Great to see multiple agencies working together—Fire Department, Forest Department, and volunteers. That's the spirit of community service. But why do fires keep reigniting at night? Maybe we need night patrols and better monitoring equipment in these fire-prone zones.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.