By Sunil Sonkar
Mussoorie, 7 May: A massive fire broke out in a forest near the populated area of Lal Tibba here, today, causing panic among the people. On receiving information about the forest fire, three teams of the Forest Department led by DFO Mussoorie Amit Kanwar reached the spot and began fire-fighting efforts.
DFO Kanwar led the forest department employees in this effort. He said that this area of Mussoorie Cantonment Board does not come under his jurisdiction, but on receiving information about the fire, he reached the spot with his team. After about eight hours of hard work the forest fire was brought under control. He said that prima facie there is a village in the lower areas of the Cantonment Board and probably someone had set alight the fire from there. The fire spread in the forest with the strong winds and within no time a large part of the forest was set alight. It caused huge damage to the forest wealth but there was no loss of life. He pointed out that birds and wild animals are greatly affected by forest fires. There are valuable cedar trees located in the Cantonment Board. It has also been observed that many cedar trees have been cut down by some anti-social elements. He would ask the CEO of the Cantonment Board to protect the forests. Action would also be taken against the manner in which valuable trees are being cut in collaboration with the Cantonment Board officials. The entire matter would be brought to the notice of higher officials. Present on this occasion were Ranger SP Gairola, Deputy Ranger Jagjivan Ram along with many others.
