Forest fire perishes 150 hectares in Dodra-Kuar

Kuldeep Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, December 8

A forest fire has devastated 150 hectares of virgin pine in Manjhiban at Dodra-Kuar, Rohru.

“Smoke has engulfed the apple belt impairing visibility in Shimla-Kullu-Kinnaur, disrupting the landing of flights at the Bhuntar airport,” said officials.

The fire that broke out three days ago damaged more than 150 hectares of ‘rai’ and ‘tosh’ in Manjhiban and Pandara, Dodra Kuar.

Residents of Jhakh and Kikar came forward to prevent the fire from spreading to other areas.

In tribal Kinnaur, the Forest Department today deputed a team of 170 persons, including 100 labourers from Nepal, to prevent the fire from spreading to Ribba, Parbani and other villages.

The jungles are up in flames, losing rich herbs and medicinal plants. Twenty days ago, the fire had broke out in Purbani. The burning mountains of Purbani are posing a grave threat, with flight operations being hampered.

A team of forest officials from Shimla failed to reach even the district headquarters at Reckong Peo today, let alone monitoring the firefighting operation at Purbani, resented the tribals. “ The local chilgoza forest has suffered huge damage as it has been on fire for over a fortnight,” they said.

“More than 175 persons have been deputed to control the fire that has spread to the mountain top of Purbani,” said DFO, Kinnaur, Angel Chauhan. “The forest fire is a ground fire and poses no danger to nearby villages. We hope to control it in a couple of days. The exact loss is yet to be assessed,” Chauhan said.

In Shimla, a fire burnt 10 hectares in Sheelghat and Mandhol, Jubbal. “We have controlled the fire. With the help of locals, the fire in Dodra-Kuar is also under control. We have lodged an FIR in both cases to ascertain the cause of the fires. The report on the exact loss is awaited,” said DFO, Rohru, Dr Chaman Lal.

A similar fire has devastated several hectares between Tikri and Chopal. “The fire has been doused and there is no major loss,” said Chopal DFO Ashwani Kumar Verma.