Baripada: Wildfire cases have increased manyfold in Similipal National Park in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district posing a threat to wild animals, plants and locals for last several months, a source said Tuesday.
Several areas including Podadiha Range, Patharakhani, and Begunapata have been affected and the fire continues to spread, the source informed.
Forest officials have spotted as many as 25 fire points, out of which 19 are in north Similipal and six are in south Similipal.
Even after joint efforts by local police, forest officials and fire services personnel, the authorities are still unable to fully douse the fire in Asia’s second-largest biosphere reserve, the source added.
The villagers residing near the forest area are fearful that wild animals will head towards their hamlets as the fire continues to spread. The villagers accused forest officials of not doing enough to douse the fire.
It can be mentioned here that as many as 642 large forest fire incidents occurred in different parts of Odisha from March 2 to March 9, 2023, according to official data.
PNN
