A massive fire broke out in the Khadki Dhar and Jhandi forests of Junga

In the last two days, in the Jhandi of Khadkidhar and Karoli Beat near Junga, the pine forests and the grass of farmers were reduced to ashes due to the raging fire. However, a lot of efforts were made by the Forest Department to save the precious forests from fire. Despite this, every year during the summer season, due to mischievous elements and the carelessness of people, priceless property worth crores of rupees gets lost in the fire.
According to Forest Range Officer Koti Rupendra Sharma, about 70 hectares of forest wealth have been damaged by the fire in Chandi Beat. Whose price in the open market has been estimated at around Rs 12.5 lakh. He said that apart from burning about 40 pine trees and three cow sheds in this massive fire, a drinking water scheme has suffered a loss of about Rs 1.5 lakh. He said that the fire had been brought under control with the help of forest staff and local people. He said that many times farmers set fire to ensure good grass growth in the upcoming rainy season and to burn pine leaves in the forest. Many times, people who smoke deliberately throw burning beedis or cigarettes in the forests, due to which fire spreads in the forest and forest wealth worth crores is destroyed.
Apart from this, in Khadkidhar, Dhalayana, Kyana, Kot, Koon, Dochi, etc. near Junga, most of the farmers’ haystacks were burnt to ashes due to arson. Whereas the government forest has suffered less damage. According to Forest Guard Junga Beat Rohit Sharma, about one hectare of government forest property has been damaged by the fire. He said that apart from the employees of the department, the 1st Police Battalion Junga and the local people have helped a lot in extinguishing the fire. However, the fire was brought under control by the time the fire brigade from Shimla also reached.
Social worker Durga Singh Thakur said that every summer, a fire in the Khadki Dhar area of ​​Junga causes damage to government and private property, for which the government should make concrete arrangements. He has demanded from the government that free fodder should be provided to the farmers whose grasses have been burnt to ashes, otherwise due to lack of grass, there is going to be a serious problem of fodder for the livestock.