The Similipal jungle is burning, many medicinal plants have turned to ashes and wildlife species, including endangered and scarce ones, have perished in the wildfire.
The fire in Similipal National Park is on rage from nearly a week destroying much endangered flora and fauna, medicinal plants and displacing countless wildlife and adivasi communities in 8 out of 21 ranges in Similipal. It is Asia’s second largest biosphere reserve and also one of the oldest tiger reserves in the country having the largest zone of Sal trees.
The forest department has asked all district officers to submit a daily report on the number of fire points in their respective divisions.
The State Government claimed that the fire in the Similipal biosphere reserve was under control.
