J&K News: As Jammu and Kashmir witness heatwaves due to high temperatures, the forest fire is still in the Nowshera subdivision in Chingus and the Sunderbani Range in Rajouri. A series of forest fires broke out in the Nowshera Sub-Division of the Rajouri District of Jammu and Kashmir due to various factors.
Speaking on the forest fire, Shweta Deonia, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), said on Friday that most of the flames are manmade, and in the rarest of cases, they occur naturally.
"We have 11 blocks in the Nowshera division, and we put five fire watchers in each block. When any fire incident happens, we engage every fire watcher in that place. The only good thing is that these are ground fires, and we try to ensure that they don't get converted into crown fires. As it is very difficult to manage a crown fire. We can control ground fires with the instruments available to us. It's our observation that rarely there occurs any natural fire, most of them are manmade, or anthropogenic," Shweta Deonia, DFO, Forest Division in Nowshera, told ANI.
Cigarette Buds One Of The Factors For Forest Fire, Says Official
Shweta Deonia said that people smoking cigarettes and throwing their buds in the forest area, which gets dry during the summer season, is also one of the factors leading to the increase in incidents of forest fires.
"At this time, our whole area is filled with Chir Pine, which gets dry during this time, and people smoke cigarettes and throw their bud there. Even a small spark takes a fierce form. I appeal to people to avoid forest areas, especially using cigarettes and any other such things," she said.
"We have 24 teams of the forest department. We have a shortage of manpower. Every year, we get a lot of retirements. So it is obvious that there is a shortage of staff," the DFO added. Meanwhile, Forest Fire is still in the Nowshera subdivision in Chingus and Sunderbani Range as the region witnessed a rise in temperature causing heatwaves.
The resultant smoke has severely polluted the air, reducing visibility and posing health risks to residents and travellers alike.
The local people, including those living near the forest, as well as small market vendors, hotel owners, shopkeepers, and dhaba operators, are facing the brunt of the adverse effects of the fires and the accompanying smoke.
Forest Fire Incidents On Rise In J-K's Rajouri
Incidents of forest fire in the areas in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri Forest Division have been on the rise this summer season compared to last year, says an official, as reported by ANI. According to Balwant Singh, Assistant Director, Forest Protection Force, Rajouri, eight incidents of forest fire have been reported to date in the area.
Speaking to ANI, Balwant Singh said, "This time, the number of forest fire incidents reported is higher than those reported in the same period in the last year. The summer season is at its peak, and hence we are seeing such forest fires. To date, eight incidents have taken place." He stated that the department has established fire control rooms at different locations in the area to ensure accessibility.
"Our staff reach the site timely. We have made fire control rooms at different locations to ensure accessibility, we are alert and taking action actively for the safety of the forest area," he said. Singh stated that when the preceding year sees fewer forest fires, the following year will have more forest fires due to the accumulation of pine needles, which are prone to fire.