Mysuru: Burnt trees everywhere, ashes strewn around a wide area, no birds chirping around, wild animals not in sight, an unbelievable scenario in the Bandipur Forest Reserve.
After losing an official, the forest staff is apprehensive about getting inside the deep forest. Dry lakes within the forest are said to be the cause for the quick spread of fire. With no water nearby to combat raging fire, the current situation poses a great challenge to the forest staff. Full grown bushes and weeds aiding the spread of fire, have only aggravated the situation.
Modern equipment to extinguish forest fire, employing helicopters to douse the raging fire is among the few options available at the moment to combat the situation. Supply of nutritious fluids in quick time to the personnel involved in battling fire too requires immediate attention.
Bandipur forest in Nilagiri Hill range is known for tigers, approximately 130 in number. Different species of birds and animal have made the reserve most sought after over the years by tourists as well as environmentalists.
Sadly, despite many forest fires in the recent past, adequate measures have not been taken to prevent and control forest fires in the state’s reserves. Depletion of forest wealth endangers not only the diverse plant and animal life but gradually poses danger to man’s livelihood itself.
