Alert issued in Rajaji Tiger Reserve, Haridwar division

Tribune News Service

Haridwar, April 30

An alert has been issued in the Rajaji Tiger Reserve and the Haridwar forest division owing to a huge forest fire engulfing several hectares of forest in the past few days. Besides park and forest employees, help from local villagers and residents is also being sought.

Fire chains have been spotted at the mountainous terrain of Shivalik hills, Bilb Parvat, where the shrines of Mata Mansa Devi and Mata Chandi Devi are situated.

DP Uniyal, Ranger of Tibdi range, Rajaji Tiger Reserve Park, said employees had been instructed to maintain a round-the-clock vigil on fire incidents and report it as soon as spotted or any information received.

Van Suraksha Samitis have also been involved to counter forest fires, which have damaged worth several lakhs of rupees of forest wealth. Forest fires have also been reported from Motichur and the Beriwada forest range of the Rajaji Park.

With the rise in the temperatures, local people fear fires will spread in the coming days. Fire spreads due to bhabhar grass found in the region, which catches fire easily. It is to be noted that Rajaji Park and its adjoining areas are prone to fire as they fall under moist sub-tropical deciduous forests. Meanwhile, people are shocked to see forests and trees burning for the past few days. As the dusk descends, the fire in the mountains is easily visible.