JOIN US Vegetation on hundreds of acres of forest was destroyed in a wildfire at BR Hills in Yalandur taluk, Chamarajanagar district on Friday.
Forest fires had become rampant last month but were not reported in the last fortnight following rains in the forests. Forest department sources said that fire has spread up to Kallarabetta, Chikkabetta, Doddabetta, Jyothibetta, Surugibetta and Gangadhareshwara forests.
10% of forest destroyed
Department sources suspect the wildfire to be the handiwork of miscreants. Fire was first spotted at Malkibetta and was later seen spreading across the forests. Around 10% of the forest has been destroyed, they said.
Forest department personnel, with the help of Soligas, are struggling to douse the flames as it is spreading fast due to a steady breeze.
The fire could not be brought under control till evening. Assistant Conservator of Forests, Yalandur division Nagaraju, RFO Mahadevu along with 50 personnel were involved in containing the fire.