Hummingbird News Desk
JAIPUR, 29 MAR: Two Indian Air Force helicopters were pressed into service on Tuesday after a wildfire in the Sariska Tiger Reserve, which broke out on Sunday, began expanding, threatening the habitat of wild animals including tigers.
The Forest Department asked people of nearby villages not to enter the forest area. The officials said no tiger is stuck in the affected area and their movement is being monitored.
The fire in the reserve, which falls under Rajasthan’s Alwar area, has been fanned across an area of 10 square kilometres by unusually hot and dry winds, officials said, while adding that some of the areas ablaze are out of reach of terrestrial firefighting equipment.
“The area under fire is at a height which is making it difficult to take any anti-fire equipment there. At present, effort is being made to douse fire manually and through water sprinkled by choppers,” said district forest officer of Sariska Tiger Reserve, Sudharshan Sharma.
The Rajasthan forest department has put six villages including Baletha, Prithvipura, Nayawas and Bhatyla on high alert, asking residents to be ready to vacate villages in short notice, officials said.
Mr Sharma said the fire first broke out on Sunday evening and by Monday, it went beyond the control of containment efforts. “Thereafter, we sought help of army and air force. An Army helicopter sprayed water to douse fire in eight sorties till Tuesday evening,” he said.
The fire has spread in Rodkela, Narandi, Kalakadi, Katighati, and Naharsati area of the Reserve.
According to Sharma, “Over 200 people including the forest staff and villagers are engaged in controlling the fire.” “They are facing challenges because the fire is on hills. Also due to smoke, bees are attacking the people working to control fire,” said another forest officer engaged in fire-fighting activity, asking not to be named.
Image Courtesy@SumitSen
Tags: #SariskaTigerReserve #MajorFire #IAFhelicopters #Rajasthan #Alwar