A fire broke out in Bandipur Tiger Reserve on Sunday, burning 2.5 acres of forest. The authorities brought it under control within hours and no wildlife has been affected so far.
Afire broke out in Bandipur Tiger Reserve on Sunday afternoon but the authorities brought it under control within hours.
The fire was noticed by watchers in the Moolapur Betta forests of Bandipur range around 2:30 pm. The authorities rushed additional staff and the fire was contained. Officials said some 2.5 acres of forest were burnt, and since it was a ground fire the wildlife was not affected.
Bandipur has dry deciduous vegetation, making it susceptible to fires. Officials say that more than 50 per cent of the forest is covered with lantana which is highly combustible.
As a precautionary measure, the forest department has constructed 20 watchtowers to keep round the clock vigil. “Fire engines have been deployed in sensitive areas to respond to emergencies. Awareness programmes have been held and everyday water is sprayed along the highway passing through the forest so that any untoward incident from the lighted cigarette butts does not take place. The water holes have water due to the good monsoon,” an official said.
Though February and March tend to be the driest season in Bandipur, the threat of forest fire lingers till the onset of pre-monsoon showers sometime in late April or early May.
