Nishikant Khajuria
KATRA, May 18: Even as the forest fire in a ridge near Katra helipad and Trikuta hills was controlled this afternoon following hours long operation by the Indian Air Force choppers, fresh blazes erupted late this evening adjoining Himkoti, near new track to Mata Vaishno Devi Bhawan.
Blazes were seen emanating from Trikuta Hills, near Himkoti helipad though the yatra remained uninterrupted till the last reports came in.
According to SSP Reasi, Sujit Kumar, the fire broke out in forest area near new track adjoining Himkoti and was expanding towards battery car track, about one kilometer from Adhkumari.
Even as fresh fire triggered some panic and the Shrine Board authorities, Civil as well as Police administration were on high alert, there was no impact on the yatra, which was going on as normal on both the tracks from Ardkumari to Bhawan.
Pertinent to mention that new track , which has been affected by the fire, was recently constructed and has not yet been opened for the yatra.
Earlier, in the day, the fire in a ridge near Katra helipad was controlled with the help of Air Force choppers. The Mi-17 choppers of the Air Force carried water from reservoir of Salal Dam and doused the flames, which erupted yesterday and had engulfed a large area adjoining the Katra helipad thus forcing the Heli companies Himalaya and Global Vectra to temporarily shift their choppers from Katra base camp to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University campus.
The Mi-17 conducted six sorties and lifted 70,000 liters of water in each round from the Salal Dam and sprinkled it over the affected areas The fire was completely controlled by this afternoon and besides choppers of the IAF, over 200 men including firemen and staff of the Shrine Board were engaged in extinguishing the fire in the affected area.
The IAF choppers were pressed into service on the request of district administration and Shrine Board. Dr M K Kumar, Addl. CEO, Pankaj Gupta, Dy CEO and Rajinder Singh, OSD of the Shrine Board were camping at Adhkuwari to oversee the operation.
According to a spokesman of the Shrine Board, two of the three major forest fires which had broken out separately on 16th and 17th May in Trikuta Hills- Sirla / Nangla Range and in Devi Pindian sector, have been brought under control by the Shrine Board’s Forest team with the active involvement of local villagers. Prolonged dry spell coupled with steep slopes and gusty winds led to spread of fire to nearby Ranges of Trikuta Hills.
The intensity and extent of fire at Sukhal Ghati/ Khandi Dhar ridge has also come down. However, the spokesman added, the Yatra including that by helicopters was going on smoothly and 33,241 pilgrims had darshan on 17-05-2016.
Meanwhile, the Police has arrested one person at Thakrakote in Arnas for allegedly setting fire in forest area.
The DFO Reasi Jitender Kumar had intimated to SSP Reasi that during operations in Compartment number 30 in Thakrakote Range near Mora Berrigalla Chandi forest, field staff observed somebody again setting fire in forest area. However, because of tough terrain and distance, Forest staff was unable to catch the offender. On further investigation they came to know that one Abdul Rashid of Mora Berigalla was allegedly involved in setting fire in Forest area Thanpal, Raskeen etc.
On this, a Police team headed by Inspector Arvind Sambyal, SHO Police Station Arnas swung into action and after great efforts, the suspected person was apprehended and handed over to Forest department Reasi for further enquiry.
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