Udhampur, June 9: A prolonged heatwave has led to a surge in forest fires across Udhampur district; the Forest Department has extinguished 29 blazes in recent weeks and urged the public to be cautious to prevent further outbreaks.
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The spike in incidents highlights the growing vulnerability of forest areas amid the ongoing spell of high temperatures, prompting authorities to intensify monitoring and firefighting efforts across the district.
According to officials, 17 forest fire incidents were reported and controlled during the previous month, while another 12 fires were reported and doused between June 1 and June 9, taking the total number of incidents handled in recent weeks to 29.
Officials said the recent forest fire in the Dabbar area was also successfully brought under control, preventing further damage to forest resources.
The Forest Department has appealed to residents and visitors to remain vigilant and avoid activities that could trigger fires, including the careless disposal of smoking materials and the use of open flames in vulnerable forest zones.
Authorities have also urged the public to immediately report any signs of smoke or fire so that rapid response teams can intervene before small incidents escalate into major blazes.
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With summer temperatures continuing to remain high, officials said community cooperation would be crucial in protecting forest wealth and minimizing the risk of further fire incidents across the district. [KNT]
