Fire erupts in Poonch forests, damages vegetation

Rajouri, Jan 11: Fire broke out in a forested area in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, destroying a huge forest cover, officials said today.

They said that the blaze which has consumed a huge forest area broke out in Nar village in the Bhata Durian area of Mendhar sub-division where five soldiers were killed after terrorists attacked their vehicle on the national highway passed through this forest in April last year.

An official told Greater Kashmir that forest department has deployed firefighters to douse the blaze. He said that the flames are spreading in the dense vegetation very rapidly due prolonged dry spell.

The Nar Forest is spread between Bhata Dhurian and Naka Manjari villages of Mendhar.