Alert forest dept personnel avert major wildfire incident in Karnataka

Gundlupet(Chamarajanagar dist): Alert Forest Department staff averted a major wildfire incident, in Gundlupet taluk, Chamarajanagar district, on Sunday.

A fire that was lit up to destroy weeds and wild bushes on a private agricultural land spread fast towards the Bandipur forest, near Maramma temple in Mangala village, Gundlupet taluk, Chamarajanagar district, on Sunday.

However, the alert Forest Department personnel acted swiftly and extinguished the fire, averting destruction of forest.

The fire that was lit to destroy the weeds on the private land on Sunday morning, spread fast and by afternoon, it spread to the forest coming under Gopalaswamy Betta. 

According to Gopalaswamy Betta Range Forest Officer B M Mallesh, the personnel at the Command Centre at Melukamanahalli, observed thick smoke billowing from the forest and alerted the Forest Department officials.

The personnel rushed to the spot and launched an operation and doused the flames, he said.