Massive fire has engulfed the forest area in Kathua and Rajouri districts of Jammu Kashmir, causing significant damage to the forest wealth.
As per forest officials, the fire originated in the Dhara Dogano area of the Basholi belt in Kathua district and rapidly spread to nearby regions.
Residents, alongside forest department officials, managed to bring the flames under control after several hours of concerted effort.
In Rajouri district, another fire broke out in the Sawni Sassalkote area, spreading to adjacent regions due to strong winds.
The forest department and Forest Protection Force have launched a large-scale firefighting operation, which is still ongoing as they work to contain the blaze.
Officials noted that certain areas in Rajouri have been grappling with forest fires for the past three days, with continuous efforts to control them. Despite the intensity of the fires, no human casualties have been reported.
The fire service department has attributed the increasing number of fire incidents, currently ranging from 10 to 13 daily, to rising temperatures.