Raja Akber
Handwara, Oct 09 (KNS): Hundreds of trees were reduced to ashes in a major fire which broke out in the woods in Mawer forests of frontier district of Kupwara in north Kashmir, official sources said on Friday.
Large number of forest officials are struggling to douse the fire which has spread to several compartments, including in Compartment No 12,13 in Monabal Mawer , for the past few days.
However, dry weather coupled with lack of fire fight equipment has made things difficult to control the leaping flames.
Sources said that due to dry weather, fire broke out in compartments in the frontier district of Kupwara early this week.
However, large number of forest officials, including senior officials, immediately rushed to control the fire.
The locals said that despite working round the clock to douse the flames, fire is spreading to other compartments due to dry weather.
However, when KNS contacted to Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Langate Abdul Hameed Malla he confirmed the fire incident in the area and said fallen trees had catched fire which had spread to other compartments, he however said large number of employees are on job to douse the flames (KNS)