Wildfire engulfs forest in Kashmir

A wildfire engulfed forest areas in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri District, damaging trees and robbing wild animals of their natural habitat.

Gusty and strong winds helped the fire to spread across the jungle, destroying vegetation and several trees in the Nowshehra forest division of the district.

“The fire has led to huge loss for the people. Most of the trees are burning. Fire is damaging the vegetation on which the goats and other animals graze. The authorities should douse off the fire as soon as possible,” said a resident.

Local residents said the nearby villages and houses had a narrow escape. The fire has mostly destroyed new plantation.

Officials added that the forest will need long time to grow since most of the new plantations have been destroyed.

“At times the fire in forest is caused at the trestle from firing across the border and sometimes the fire is immediately caught. We do not know the reason as of now but we are investigating,” said forest officer Raj Kumar.