A Massive Fire Broke Out In The Forests Of Trikuta Hills

A massive fire broke out in the forests of Trikuta hills near Mata Vaishno Devi temple, no effect on the journey.

A massive fire broke out in the forests of Trikuta hills under Mata Vaishno Devi temple in the evening under suspicious circumstances.

However, by morning, the fire brigade personnel have almost brought the fire under control with the help of the Air Force. Smoke is still coming out of some places.

Work is being done to douse the fire completely. The district administration has also taken the help of Mi-17 helicopters of the Indian Air Force to douse the fire immediately.

Helicopters filled the fire with water from the Salal dam, due to which the fire could be brought under control in time.

More than 200 people, including the firemen of the Shrine Board, employees of the fire department, are involved in this operation.

There is no report of any loss of life or property due to the forest fire and the yatra is also going on smoothly.

The fire broke out in the area above the helicopter base on Panthal Road. Due to this, the helicopter service from Katra to Sanjhi Chhat was also stopped.

As a precaution, helicopter companies Himalaya and Global Vectra shifted the landing base to Mata Vaishno Devi University.

However, helicopter services were restored to normal this morning after the fire was brought under control.

DFO Reasi, Dr. Jatinder Singh said that the cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained. It is learned that the fire started from the ridge areas adjacent to Banganga.

Later it reached the forest near the Katra helipad while growing. Forest fires are often triggered by the carelessness of trekkers. These people leave the fire burning while trekking which later spreads.

On the other hand, Reasi Deputy Commissioner Ravinder Kumar said that seeing the fire becoming uncontrollable, help was sought from the Indian Air Force.

“Today around 6:30 am from Air Force Station, Udhampur, two Mi-17 helicopters were engaged in dousing the fire. They started sprinkling on the fire by filling water from Salal Dam.

About 200 employees of the Fire Department and Shrine Board Firemen were cooperating with DFO.

Deputy Commissioner Ravinder Kumar said that both the Air Force helicopters are continuously flying and lifting water to douse the fire. With the help of the Air Force, we were able to douse the fire in time.

Barring a few remote areas, most of the forest fires in Trikuta hills have been brought under control.

He said that there was no report of any loss of life or property due to the forest fire and the yatra was also going on smoothly.