Mysuru: A raging fire engulfed huge expanse of Bandipur Reserve forest on Saturday.
As per sources 2000 acres of forest land has been gutted and the authorities are having a tough time to bring the situation under control as heavy breeze is posing a major impediment to the fire fighting operation.
The fire was first seen at the entrance of Bandipur. Animals and birds are worst hit.
Earlier, about 600 acres of forest was gutted in a wildfire incident reported on Thursday night.
According to the sources in the forest department, the forest fire started around 4 PM on Thursday and continued to spread till Friday morning. “The forest fire was first reported from Lokkere area. Later it spread to Kundukere,” said an officer. The forests of Hananji Hundi, Barekatte, Menasimokka Bettar, Kallare Betta, Guddakere are the worst affected.
“Compared to previous years, this time the forest department had taken up precautionary measures in the month of December itself by creating a fire line, fire watchtowers, recruitment of tribal youths to send alerts. But none of them have curbed wildfire incidents,” explained an officer who wished to be unnamed.