Rajouri: Forest Fires Rage Along LoC: Trigger Landmine Explosions, Impact Wildlife

GNS ONLINE NEWS PORTAL

SHYAM SOOD

**Barking Deer rescued in Doongi & Himalayan Goral fawn in Nowshera area

RAJOURI, JUNE 10:-Massive forest fires raging in areas along the Line of Control (LoC) in Rajouri district have assumed alarming proportions, triggering landmine explosions in forward areas and severely affecting wildlife habitats. As the fires continue to spread, wild animals are increasingly being forced out of forests and into human habitations in search of safety.

According to sources, extensive forest fires have been reported over the past several days in forest areas adjoining the LoC in the Keri and Nowshera sectors. Prolonged dry weather, intense heat, and strong winds have contributed to the rapid spread of flames across several locations, including Barat Gala, Kas Kancha, Mundi Morha, Rattal, Basali, Mittidhara, and forward areas such as Lam, Chitti Bakri, Ser Makri, and Druni Gala.

Sources said the fires have reached highly sensitive areas located ahead of the border fence, where many landmines have been laid for security purposes. Several explosions were reportedly heard after the mines came into contact with the advancing fire, causing loud blasts across the forward belt and making firefighting efforts even more difficult.

No loss of life or property has been reported so far. However, officials said the affected areas fall within restricted forward locations where civilian movement is prohibited. Consequently, the responsibility of controlling the fires in these zones is being undertaken primarily by the Army, whose personnel are engaged in challenging operations under difficult terrain and weather conditions.

There are concerns that thousands of hectares of forest cover, vegetation, and biodiversity may have been affected by the ongoing fires.

The impact on wildlife has already become evident. In Doongi, a Barking Deer was rescued by a joint team of the Wildlife Protection Department and Forest Department after it reportedly strayed into a populated area while fleeing the fire-affected forest. Local residents spotted the animal and alerted the authorities, who safely rescued it and placed it under observation.

In a separate incident, Wildlife Department personnel rescued a Himalayan Goral fawn in the Nowshera area. Officials believe the young mountain ungulate was displaced from its natural habitat due to the forest fire and subsequently wandered close to human settlements.

Officials said forest fires are destroying food, water, and shelter sources for wildlife, forcing many animals to move toward inhabited areas. They appealed to the public not to harm or attempt to capture wild animals and instead immediately inform the Wildlife Department if such animals are sighted.

Efforts by the Army, Forest Department, Wildlife Department, and other agencies to contain the fires were continuing at the time of filing this report, though flames remained active in several inaccessible locations.

Range Officer Rajouri Wildlife Iftikhar Ahmed has sought the public cooperation for the protection of wildlife during forest fire season.

“Fire outbreaks can cause injury, displacement, suffocation, and death of numerous wild animals, birds, reptiles, and other biodiversity, including several protected species. Fire also destroys nesting sites, breeding grounds, food resources, and natural vegetation essential for the survival of wildlife, said Range Officer Rajouri Wildlife.”