J-K: Massive fire breaks out in Rajouri's Bindi forest area
Rajouri, June 5
A massive fire broke out in the Bindi forest area of Kalalkass Block under Kandi Range in Rajouri district, triggering a large-scale response by the Forest Department and allied agencies, an official said.
Teams of the Forest Department, Forest Protection Force (FPF), and local residents actively engaged in efforts to control the blaze and prevent it from spreading to nearby forest areas.
Officials said that the ongoing heatwave and dry weather conditions have contributed to a rise in forest fire incidents across the Rajouri district. Firefighting teams are working on the ground to contain the flames and minimise damage to forest resources.
Rajesh Khajuria, a forest official, expressed gratitude to the villagers for their support in extinguishing the fire. He noted that the fire broke out at noon.
"The fire broke out at noon; I found out via a phone call and rushed here immediately. The villagers stood by me and offered immense support. Everyone came together to extinguish the forest fire. With the help of these villagers, we managed to save the forest. The people of Bhindi, the people of my area, are truly wonderful and always cooperative; they extend their full support to anyone from the Forest Department. It is thanks to their cooperation that we were able to put out the fire and save the forest," he said.
Authorities have urged the public to remain vigilant and immediately report any forest fire incidents to the concerned departments to ensure a swift response.
— ANI
Reader Comments
It's good to see forest officials praising the local community. But we need better preventive measures - these fires are becoming too frequent in J&K during summers. Maybe more watchtowers and modern firefighting equipment? Just a thought. 🌲👩🌾
These forest fires are a real worry in Rajouri district every summer. Climate change is real - the heatwave is making things worse. Proud of the villagers who rushed to help, they're the unsung heroes. But I hope the government invests in better early warning systems and fire lines. 🌡️
The official's words about the villagers were so heartwarming. "The people of Bhindi are truly wonderful" - that's real community spirit. These small forests are our lifelines, especially in hilly areas. Hope we don't lose any more greenery to such incidents. 🙏🌄
Nice to see coordinated effort between officials and locals, but this shouldn't be reactive. We need more awareness campaigns about forest fire prevention in villages. And honestly, why aren't we using drones for surveillance? In 2024, we should be ahead of such disasters. 🚁🌲
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