Fire on mountain...
a major fire has destroyed a large tract of forest in the Shivalik Hills at Batandi in Jammu. This was the first fire in the region that engulfed the forest in late April. Although, the fire was soon doused, it is feared that high velocity winds may result in rekindling of the fire in some places.
The fire destroyed around 15 square kilometres of forest ranges in the Shivalik hills. There was no loss of life but more than a dozen sheds belonging to gujjars (nomads) were gutted.
According to R S Sodhi, joint director of Jammu and Kashmir Fire Service, the blaze was caused by the negligence of nomads and shepherds who keep their choollaas (earthen stoves) smouldering while grazing cattle.
Meteorological officials predict that major fires like this could lead to an increase in temperature and reduce rainfall. "Temperature has risen in areas where forest cover has depleted,' informs Manmohan Singh, director, Meteorological Centre, Kashmir.
Fire officials are helpless in controlling big fires as they lack sophisticated equipment. "As there are no roads in the forest we have to carry our heavy conventional equipment manually. By the time we reach the spot, the fire spreads to other areas,' complains Sodhi.
Forest department officials have therefore requested the union government for a grant to build watchtowers.
As per official figures, the total forest cover in Jammu and Kashmir is 20,700 square kilometre, which is 9.31 per cent of the state's total land area. Kashmir province accounts for 8,128 square kilometres of forest cover. But, in the past 10 years nearly 1,30,400 trees were illegally felled in the state.
Meanwhile, forest department officials are in the process of assessing the loss caused by the fire.
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