QRV firefighters reach upper Nishat forest belt on foot to douse flames

Srinagar, Jan 15: Special fire fighting teams of the Quick Response Vehicle unit from Gaw Kadal Fire Station were on Thursday seen trekking on foot to the Zabarwan Hills to battle a forest fire raging in the upper Nishat forest belt on the outskirts of Srinagar.

The fire has been burning for the past six days in the Manzgam forest area of Upper Brein Nishat, spreading across the Zabarwan Hills and engulfing large stretches of forest cover. Due to the steep and rocky terrain, access by vehicles has not been possible, forcing firefighting personnel to reach the affected areas on foot while carrying equipment.

Officials said teams from the Fire and Emergency Services, Forest Department, Forest Protection Force, Wildlife Department, and Soil Conservation have been working continuously under challenging conditions to control the blaze. With dry bushes and grass acting as fuel, flames have continued to spread across forested slopes, while thick smoke has been emanating from the area.

Firefighters were seen using manual tools and improvised methods to douse the flames, as the non motorable terrain has made conventional firefighting operations extremely difficult. Despite exhaustion and adverse conditions, the teams have persisted in efforts to prevent the fire from spreading further into adjoining forest compartments.

Officials said containment operations are ongoing and the situation is being closely monitored. The extent of damage to forest resources will be assessed once the fire is fully brought under control. [KNT]