Around 120 acres of social forest was destroyed in a wildfire at Depapura village near Terakanambi in Gundlupet taluk, Chamarajanagar district, on Wednesday.

According to Forest Department officials, it was a man-made fire. Speaking to DH, Range Forest Officer Rajesh said some miscreants have set fire to the vegetation around 3 pm. There is no danger to wild animals as they enter only for food and do not live here. Hundreds of saplings planted by the department a year have been totally destroyed, he added.

The fire spread across the vegetation, grazing land and private land. The Forest Department and Fire and Emergency Services personnel doused the flame.

Meanwhile, around five acres of forest was destroyed in a wildfire on the Gonikoppa-Hunsuru Road, near Alluru under Anechowkuru forest range in Periyapatna taluk on Wednesday.

The Forest Department personnel rushed to the spot and doused the flame. RFO Rathan Kumar was present.