Chikkamagaluru: A forest fire showed up in Baloor reserve forest region (Mudigere taluk) late on Tuesday night and the operation to extinguish the fire went on till wee hours of Wednesday.
It is suspected to be a foul play of the tourists that throng the region. The raging fire had engulfed 2 km stretch in the region and as many as 30 firefighters were pressed into action to douse off the fire.
Sources said that minor fire breakouts have been going on in the region over the last three days, due to which the forest officials have been alert averting larger damage. The forest officials have suspected that revellers who may have come to the region to celebrate New Year may be behind this incident.