Rajouri, May 29: A massive forest fire raging at different locations in Rajouri district has caused extensive damage to forest cover, with hundreds of trees reportedly affected and concerns mounting over destruction to local flora and fauna.
The blaze has been reported from forest areas near Manur Gala and Koteranka in the Rajouri Forest Division, where fire has continued to spread for the last several days amid prevailing heat wave conditions.
Officials said forest fires broke out at multiple locations in the division as soaring temperatures and dry conditions intensified the situation.
Teams from the Forest Department, assisted by allied departments, have been engaged in efforts to control and contain the blaze in the affected forest belts.
The fire has triggered concern among locals and environmental observers, who fear long-term ecological damage due to destruction of vegetation and wildlife habitat in the affected areas.
The circumstances surrounding the fire have also become a matter of concern, with calls emerging for a thorough inquiry into the incidents and assessment of whether any preventable factors contributed to the spread of the blaze.
Officials have not yet released a formal estimate of the total area damaged or the scale of losses to forest resources.
Authorities continued firefighting and containment efforts as the fire remained active in parts of the Rajouri Forest Division. [KNT]
