Days on, Forest officials battling ‘high-risk’ fire along LoC in Gurez valley

Bandipora, Dec 1: Amid dry weather and biting cold conditions, forest officials in Gurez Valley are battling a rare but “high-risk” forest fire along the Line of Control (LoC) that has spread across several hectares over the last four days.

The blaze, officials said, is proving exceptionally difficult to control in compartment 32, an area that is smart-fenced and largely inaccessible. The accumulation of conifer needles and dry forest litter has further fuelled the flames.

“The fire is out of control,” said Ubeed Lanker, a forest range official in Gurez.

Officials said the army’s smart fencing and the area being out of bounds for locals allowed the fire to intensify. In normal circumstances, they said, locals collect fallen conifer needles and undergrowth, reducing the fuel load.

The fire is estimated to have affected four to five hectares so far.

“The army is now assisting us in controlling the fire,” an official said, adding that the local SDM and police have been alerted. Dozens of civilians also joined the firefighting efforts on Sunday.

The blaze is in the upper reaches of Bagtore in Gurez, close to the LoC—an area known for frequent cross-LoC flare-ups and infiltration attempts. Movement in the zone is tightly controlled, with the army scrutinising every individual going uphill to help douse the fire.

“Whosoever is allowed is accompanied by at least two personnel,” the official said.

Fires have also erupted in multiple locations in the Khuihama Forest Range of Bandipora, leaving officials stretched thin across both fronts.

Even when the fire appears contained in Gurez, strong evening winds reignite the embers. “For today, the fire was almost contained, but once we come down, the wind plays spoilsport and it flares up again,” the official said.

“It has been four days, and the staff has lost track of day and night,” the range officer added.

With no water sources nearby, teams are using mud to smother the flames while pushing deeper into the forest—an operation they describe as “very high risk” because of the potential presence of unexploded ordnance in the border zone.

Officials said the cause of the fire is still being assessed. With little to no human activity in the area, identifying the trigger could be challenging, they added.