Forest fires ravage Rajouri amid ongoing Indian military operation in district
Rajouri: Massive forest fires continue to rage across several locations in Rajouri district of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, causing extensive damage to vegetation and wildlife even as a large-scale Indian military operation remains underway in the district.
According to Kashmir Media Service, locals as well firefighting teams from the Forest Department have been engaged in containing the blazes that have spread across multiple locations amid hot and dry weather conditions.
The flames have been kept rising for several days, destroying large swathes of forest cover and forcing wild animals out of their natural habitats.
Local residents described the situation as devastating, saying the flames have spared neither trees nor livestock and have created serious difficulties for nearby communities.Residents said some wild animals have been forced to move towards residential areas as their habitats come under threat. Villagers also reported damage to cattle and other property due to the continuing fires.
According to local accounts, residents initially attempted to extinguish the flames on their own before informing the concerned authorities. They said the fire intensified during the night and spread rapidly from multiple directions, leaving large areas completely charred.
The forest fires come at a time when Rajouri district is witnessing heightened military activity. A massive cordon and search operation by Indian forces has entered its tenth day in the Gambhir Mughlan and Dorimal-Manjakote areas, with helicopters, drones and para commandos deployed in the rugged terrain, yet the forces have so far failed to locate the militants they are pursuing.
Political observers and local residents have pointed to a pattern witnessed in the past, alleging that forest fires have frequently broken out in areas where prolonged Indian military operations are underway. They pointed fingers at the Indian army for forest fire after failing to locate freedom activists in dense forests.
Residents said the simultaneous continuation of military operations and widespread forest fires has added to their hardships, while also causing severe environmental damage to the territory’s forests and wildlife. KMS-
