SRINAGAR: The central Kashmir’s Srinagar district witnessed a devastating fire outbreak in several areas of the Zabarwan range on Sunday evening, causing significant damage to trees.
Reports said that the fire originated in the Zabarwan hills before spreading to the adjacent forest area, engulfing a significant portion of the forests.
Panic spread among residents of Shalimar and Harwan as the fire rapidly advanced.
Iqra Khalid, a local resident, took to social media to raise alarm about the massive fire raging in the Zabarwan range, Srinagar. Expressing concern, she said that if not swiftly controlled, the fire could consume the entire forest by tomorrow morning. “Urgent action is needed,” she added.
Manzoor Wangnoo, who leads the Nigeen Lake Conservation Organization (NLCO), also posted on social media about the Zabarwan hills being on fire. He described it as a big environmental problem and crisis for nature.
Meanwhile, the locals urged authorities to accelerate firefighting efforts to prevent the fire from reaching residential areas.
An official said that teams, along with local help, are actively working on-site to control the blaze. However, he noted that the full extent of damage can only be assessed once the fire is extinguished. “Currently, our teams are focused on putting out the fire,” he stated.
