Excelsior Correspondent
UDHAMPUR, May 31: As a massive fire broke out in Ghordi block of Udhampur district, last evening and the blazes engulfed a vast area, the Indian Air Force (IAF) today joined the fire fighting operation.
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The fire in Daya Dhar forest started yesterday evening and spread in a vast area damaging hundreds of trees before it was controlled today.
The Forest Protection Force, along with Fire Department and Emergency Services personnel, Police and civilian volunteers from nearby villages made efforts to put off the blaze in the forest.
Swiftly responding to the call off Deputy Commissioner Udhampur, Indu Kanwal Chib, the IAF deployed its choppers with a bucket carrying thousands of litres of water early this morning to help douse the fire, which got fully controlled after rains lashes the area.
The officials said the cause of the fire was not known immediately but it is believed that the blaze started after the dry grass caught fire due to rising mercury.
According to District Development Council (DDC) member, Ghordi, Rakesh Chander Sharma, the fire engulfed a vast forest area and the damage to wildlife is enormous. “We have an endangered species of peacocks and other wild animals including leopards, deer, bears and wild pigs,” he added.
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