Loss of green gold continues across Rajouri

Rajouri, June 20: The disastrous forest fire in forest areas of Rajouri district seem not coming to an end. Fifty incidents of both minor and major scale have been reported from across the district in last 10 days.

The incidents have caused massive damage of both flora and fauna in forest areas.

Forest fires during summer season are routine in areas across the district where forest bed becomes dry due to rise in temperature and needles of pine trees become highly prone to fire and highly inflammable due to dryness.

Although, in the year 2023, forest fire incidents in areas of Rajouri district were witnessed on lesser scale but in 2024 so far, forest fire incidents have taken place on larger note.

The incidents are taking place from last almost one and half month, since onset of summer season, with a spike in number of incidents on daily basis has been seen during last two weeks.

Sharing details, Assistant Director Forest Protection Force, Rajouri Division, Masued Ahmed said that a large number of incidents of forest fire have taken place in last 10 days across the district.

" Earlier one or hardly two incidents were taking place every day but the trend has witnessed a rise in last two weeks," Masood Ahmad said.

He added that in last 10 days alone, an average of five to six incidents have taken place each day. Fifty incidents have been registered during last 10 days.

The officer of Forest Protection Force further stated that these incidents reported in last 10 days were of both minor and major scale with some major incidents happened in Doongi block areas, areas of LoC in Keri, Kallar area, Kotli in Gambhir Mughlan and areas of Teryath.

" Presently, we are dealing with different incidents with one forest fire incidents at Palullian Mehari where forest fire erupted on Thursday morning," the officer added.

He also made a passionate appeal to people to help the department in saving green gold from burning and not only to report any incident of forest fire instantly but also to help tracing those involved in setting forest to fire.