Forest wealth worth lakhs destroyed in fire

Bhupender, a Baragarh resident, reported that the fire started around 7.15 pm and quickly spread, burning through the night. Eyewitness Suresh claimed to have heard an explosion in the project’s wires, leading to the blaze. Another local stated that the project manager dismissed responsibility and failed to act to control the fire.

Local youths Surender and Vansh attempted to douse the flames around 10 pm but were unsuccessful as the fire had grown too intense. By morning, the entire area was engulfed in smoke, residents reported.

Sudarshan, another villager, alleged that such fires occur almost annually due to sparking from the transmission lines of the power project. The line, which runs from Halan-II to a sub-station in Fozal, reportedly hangs dangerously low at certain points, with a clearance of just 15 feet.

Sachin, a resident, criticised the use of 11-metre poles for the high-voltage lines, saying the inadequate height increases fire risk. Gokul pointed out that the wires are too close to each other, causing frequent sparking, which ignites the forest.

However, project authorities denied these allegations, claiming that all necessary approvals and safety measures were in place. A project official attributed the sparking to external factors, such as falling tree branches or animals, and argued that forest fires are common in the region.

Despite the project’s defence, locals demand an investigation into whether such high-voltage lines should be supported by 11-metre poles and if sufficient precautions are being taken.

The recurring forest fires in Kullu district have severely damaged forest wealth in recent years. Residents blame the lack of proactive measures by the forest department, which reportedly lacks adequate resources to prevent or control fires. Consequently, the incidents have been increasing, raising environmental and safety concerns.