SIMILIPAL RESERVE FIRE RAGES ON, ODISHA SENDS HIGH-LEVEL TEAM

BHUBANESWAR: As the fire in the Similipal biosphere reserve rages on in Mayurbhanj district for over 10 days, Odisha government on Wednesday engaged a team of over 1,000 personnel, deployed 40 vehicles including fire tenders and 240 blowers to control the fire in the eight of the 21 reserve ranges, officials said.

Odisha forest and environment minister Bikram Arukha said he has instructed the principal chief conservator of forests to ascertain the cause of the fire and bring it under control. “I have asked the PCCF, Wildlife to ascertain the cause of the fire, control the inferno and examine the situation. He will submit a report to the state government on Thursday.”

Regional chief conservator of forest , M Yogajayananda said the fire may have been triggered by someone’s negligence.