Massive fire engulfs Zabarwan forest

Srinagar, Mar 3: A massive forest fire engulfed a large portion of Zabarwan forests on Tuesday triggering thick plumes of smoke and causing extensive damage to flora and fauna.

The fire incident caused panic among residents of New Theed, Harwan, and Shalimar areas. What began as a daytime blaze intensified by evening, with flames snaking across the ridgeline and smoke blanketing vast stretches of the mountain.

Locals said that by evening the fire had spread along the Zabarwan range, close to the New Theed–Harwan–Shalimar belt. Dense smoke rose steadily, turning the skyline grey and casting an eerie pall over the area. Locals said the smoke was so heavy that it resembled a fog screen, engulfing the mountain ridges above Harwan and reducing visibility.

“It felt like the mountains had disappeared behind a wall of smoke. As evening approached, the flames became clearly visible. It was a frightening sight,” said Adil Bhat, a local from New Theed.

Locals said the smoke plume extended across the Dachigam National Park range, alarming residents who described the scene as “scary” and “unsettling.”

“This is not an isolated incident. Only days ago, a similar blaze was reported in the same Zabarwan range along the Nishat–Brein belt. At the time, officials from Fire and Emergency Services had said such fires often occur at high altitudes, where the terrain is steep, approach roads are absent, and ground access is extremely difficult.

“These are mostly high-altitude forest fires. Reaching the spot is a major challenge,” an official said.

Residents, however, say repeated forest fires are destroying flora and fauna.

"Authorities, especially the Forest Department, must take large-scale preventive measures instead of reacting after damage is done,” said a local elder from Harwan.

Adding to concerns, another forest fire was reported on Tuesday in the Khimber mountain range of Srinagar. Locals said the flames were visible at dawn, when people stepped out after suhoor to offer prayers, underscoring the spread of such incidents across the region.

With winter witnessing an unusual spate of forest fires around Srinagar’s mountains, residents are urging authorities to strengthen monitoring and deploy preventive strategies before the fragile ecology suffers irreversible damage.