Despite efforts by forest department officials, State Disaster Relief Force (SDRF) and locals, the massive forest fires sweeping through Udhampur and Jammu districts are spiralling out of control, prompting calls for Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopters to combat the blaze.
For the past two days, a devastating fire has engulfed the Darsoo forest area, threatening the region's flora and fauna.
Likely to have been sparked off by the heatwave gripping the region, the fires have now spread to vast swathes of ecologically sensitive areas. Two sections of forests – one in the Udhampur district and another in the Jindrah area of Jammu have been impacted, resulting in significant loss to the region's green cover.
Mohammad Lateef, who lives close to the forests, was quoted by the media as saying, “The fire brigade has been unable to controle the flames; only IAF choppers can now bring the blaze under control.”
“The heat wave is causing the fire to spread even more."
Forest fires are also currently raging in the Rajouri district of Jammu. Officials from the forest department and SDRF teams are struggling to extinguish the flames.
"The forest fires and resulting smoke pose significant health and environmental risks," people said. Reduced visibility due to the smoke could also potentially
endanger lives, they added.
For firefighters working tirelessly the vast affected area and rugged terrain are proving to be major obstacles.
Scorching summer heat and dry conditions are making things work. The coming days will be critical in assessing the damage and the effectiveness of firefighting efforts.
Asking for immediate government intervention, Mukesh Kumar, another local resident, said, "The blaze is strong and not being controlled. The government should immediately take steps to control it before it is too late."
According to the fire service department, rising temperatures are causing 10 to 13 fire incidents daily in the region, further complicating firefighting efforts.
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