KL NEWS NETWORK
SRINAGAR
Two of the three major forest fires which had broken out separately on May 16 & 17 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.
According to spokesman, prolonged dry spell coupled with steep slopes and gusty winds led to spread of fire to nearby Ranges of Trikuta Hills.
Spokesman further said that the intensity and extent of fire at Sukhal Ghati/ Khandi Dhar ridge has also come down.
“The efforts of ground teams of the Shrine Board and CRPF Jawans engaged in control of fire for last three days were also aided by the Air Force which conducted six sorties on 18th May to sprinkle water over affected areas. The MI 17 deployed for the purpose lifted 70,000 liters of water in each round from the nearly Salal dam,” said spokesman.
A Shrine Board spokesman added that the Yatra including that by helicopters is going on smoothly and 33,241 pilgrims had darshan on May 17, 2016. Nearly 200 persons deployed by the Shrine Board and CRPF are camping at various sites on the Trikuta Hills for controlling the fire.
