Post News Network
Baripada, March 15: A wildfire that kept on raging in various parts of Similipal sanctuary in Mayurbhanj district over the last fortnight was finally extinguished Sunday. A two-hour long rain spell Saturday night also helped the staff of Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) in containing the fire.
Amid allegations that the forest fire has ravaged valuable flora and fauna, the STR authorities Sunday came out with their claim that only 160 hectare of forest land has been affected by the fire, but not a single wildlife died in the incident.
Making it clear that the animals were out of the reaches of the
fire, the STR authorities also said forests catching fire is not a new phenomenon.
As per records in the last two years, fire raged in the core area of Similipal March 3, 2013 and kept on spreading sporadically for at least two months.
Fire was also reported in the core area March 19, 2014 which continued raging till May 1.
The authorities said earlier there was no modern equipment to douse fire. Now, 15 blowers have been
provided to the STR. Besides, other ancillary equipment like
counter-fire machines and sprayers are also available.
In the fire-fighting exercise, the STR made use of 390 fire squads, 150 other staff and various Van Surakhya Samities.
The authorities explained that about two acre of land was in flames in Sambachara under Pithabata range. When the fire spread in the buffer area of the range, a herd of five elephants strayed out of the forest and headed for human habitations. The fire was brought under control Saturday night.
Rains also came handy in dousing the flames. The fire has damaged only dry leaves lying on the ground as the flames did not rise up to two feet from the ground. “The forest fire has not caused any major damage to herbal and big trees,” the STR authorities claimed.
Forest fire had also been reported in the core areas of Baripada,
Udala, Karanjia, Rairangpur and Pithabata ranges.
