Massive forest fire in Mhaismal brought under control after 9-hour operation

Lokmat News Network

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar:

A major forest fire broke out on Saturday afternoon in the Mhaismal hill range near Pimpri village, in the Gorakshanath caves area. After nearly nine and a half hours of relentless efforts, the Forest Department and members of the local forest management committee managed to bring the blaze under control around 1:30 am. Their swift action helped save significant forest resources from being destroyed.

The fire was reported to the Forest Department at around 4 pm on Saturday. Due to intense heat and strong winds, the flames spread rapidly and took a severe form within a short time. Despite darkness, forest personnel continued battling the fire across the hilly terrain. Finally, the fire was completely extinguished by 1:30 am.

The operation was carried out under the guidance of range forest officer Nikhil Deshmukh and forester Sandeep More, with staff playing a crucial role.

Appeal to citizens

As dry leaves during summer can easily catch fire, even a small spark can trigger a major forest blaze. Tourists and locals are urged not to engage in activities that may cause fire in forest areas. Any sighting of smoke or fire should be immediately reported to the Forest Department.

— Nikhil Deshmukh, range forest officer, Khuldabad