Forest fire rages on in Sabarimala forest area; failure in extinguishing efforts raises concerns

Pathanamthitta: The Forest Department faces criticism for its failure to extinguish a forest fire that erupted in the Sabarimala forest area. The fire, which initially broke out near Nilakkal, has now begun to spread, posing a threat to nearby regions including Kollakkunnu, Thevarmalaa, and Nanpanpara Kotta over the past three days.Despite efforts by the Forest Department to combat the blaze, they have been largely unsuccessful, leading to its gradual spread into more areas.

While last night’s rainfall provided some respite by dampening the flames in certain areas, local forest-dwelling communities report that the fire has since reignited and expanded into additional forest territories. The failure to establish ‘fire lines’, a preventive measure involving the controlled burning of vegetation to create a barrier against spreading flames, is cited as a key reason for the fire’s rapid escalation. The Forest Department’s inadequacies in implementing these measures are attributed to budget constraints, according to reports.