Forest fire breaks out on Sikkim ridge

Photo Courtesy: Facebook - Pritam Singh Chauhan  

SNS, Gangtok, 6 February 2017: A major forest fire broke out at Tinjurey Ridge on 4 February above Nampong village area within Fambanglho Wildlife Sanctuary. A team comprising forest, police, civil rescue and fire service officials together with the local panchayat, eco-development committee, joint forest management committee members and villagers reached the spot early on Sunday morning and commenced a fire fighting operation and creation of fire lines.

As the ridge where the fire broke out is mostly an inaccessible cliff terrain, the Black cat Division and Indian Air Force helicopters were pressed into service on the request of the state government to air drop water on the fire.

About 13 sorties were carried out by the helicopters equipped with water buckets. As the fire couldnot be brought under control completely, fire fighting operations will continue tomorrow. Drought like conditions prevalent within the state has rendered forest areas vulnerable to forest fires. The Forest, Environment and Wildlife Management Department has appealed to the public residing close to forest areas to avoid going into forest areas for picnicking, camping or any other purpose with inflammable materials.