Massive Forest Fire Swept Through Large Areas Of Udhampur District In Jammu Division

In Jammu and Kashmir, a massive forest fire swept through large areas of Udhampur district in Jammu division causing extensive damage to forest resources, including wildlife. The fire, which began in the Darsoo forest area between Udhampur and Jammu districts on Tuesday, has spread across five to six square km. The residents have sought the deployment of the Indian Air Force (IAF) choppers to douse the blaze.

 

The current efforts by the forest department and locals have been insufficient and the fire is spreading to new areas. However, the cause of the fire remains undetermined, though some locals suspect it may have been



deliberately set by miscreants. To bolster firefighting efforts, the State Disaster Relief Force (SDRF) joined local teams but the fire continues to spread, exacerbated by winds. 

According to the fire service department, there are currently 10 to 13 fire incidents occurring daily in the region, attributed to the rising temperatures. The forest areas in Kathua and Rajouri districts were engulfed by fire on Tuesday, causing significant damage to forest wealth. The forest department officials and local residents took several hours to bring the fire under control.