Excelsior Correspondent
RAJOURI, May 1: Major forest fire in Nowshera and Manjakote, Gambir area of district Rajouri today created tension among the villagers.
The Forest officials and Army troops continued fighting fire which engulfed larger area. At 2-3 places, the fire also disrupted movement of vehicles on the Highway. With the fire a large number of trees and wild life has been affected. The senior Forest officials were continuously fighting the fire.
The authorities sounded alert in the adjoining villages and asked people to join hands to contain fire. A Forest officer alleged that some villagers lit the fire to clear the dry grass in their fields and it got spread in the Forest area. He said some areas of Bathuni, Kalakote Solki, Gambir and Kotli were badly affected.