Forest fire breaks out in Rajouri, vast forest area damaged

Jammu, May 25: A major forest fire broke out in the Nowshera belt of Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district on Monday, causing extensive damage to large tracts of forest land, officials said.

The blaze erupted under mysterious circumstances and quickly spread to several areas in the Nowshera region, fanned by dry vegetation and prevailing weather conditions, they added.

Soon after receiving information about the incident, teams of the Forest Department, Jammu and Kashmir Fire and Emergency Services, and local volunteers launched a massive operation to contain the fire and prevent it from spreading further.

A video circulating on social media showed vast stretches of forest engulfed in flames, while the distress calls of hundreds of birds, including peacocks, could be heard in the background. The footage prompted widespread concern among residents and environmentalists, who urged authorities to intensify efforts to save wildlife and douse the flames at the earliest.

Officials informed that firefighting teams were working tirelessly in the difficult terrain to bring the blaze under control and safeguard the ecologically sensitive area.

The fire has destroyed large areas of plantation and other forest wealth, causing significant ecological damage, officials said, adding that no loss of human life or injury has been reported so far.

The exact cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained.