Wild animals perish in forest fire

Palampur, March 4

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With the rise in mercury, forest fires have been reported in Palampur. A pine forest adjoining the Neugal river, 3 km from Palampur, has been on fire since morning. A number of wild animals were killed in the fire. The Forest Department is making all efforts to control the fire.

In the absence of adequate financial support from the government, the department has been looking towards rain for dousing the fires.

The raging fires are extinguished only when the monsoon breaks over the region. This year it could take longer time as forest fires have been reported as early as March.

Information gathered by The Tribune revealed that the Forest Department this year had not been able to take even minimum required preventive measures like controlled burning of forests and maintenance of fire lines. This year it carried out controlled burning over a limited forest area in the state. Official sources said over 20 per cent of the total forest area of the state was prone to fire. — OC