Cigarette butts discarded by gamblers causing field fires
K. Umashanker
The rising temperatures and increased police patrolling during the preelection period have led to many people occupying the fields and forest fringe areas of the Chittoor and Annamayya districts for gambling, which involves smoking and drinking.
This causes concern for the fire department as there have been 35 fire incidents in the agricultural fields of five mandals in the Punganur Assembly constituency since February this year alone, out of a total 62 cases in 202324. The boozers and gamblers choose shady areas in the fields to avoid police surveillance, usually occupying mango orchards and fodder fields and throwing cigarette butts in the driedup fields leading to fire mishaps; the withered grass and leaves beneath the mango trees also catch fire, damaging crops.
According to M. Subba Raju, Station Fire Officer at Punganur, the fires that gutted fields were reported from Chowdepalle, Somala, Sadum, Punganur, and Rompicharla mandals, and similar incidents were reported from the Madanapalle region of the neighbouring Annamayya district.
A forest beat officer of the Madanapalle range said that the terrain of the region is mostly covered with grass, quickly leading to forest fires. The boozers also try to cook with firewood and grass and leave the place without putting off the flames, he added.
Mr. Raju said that its difficult to put out the fires in these fields as fire engines cannot navigate the rough terrain. He appealed to farmers to keep vigil on their fields and prevent the entry of boozers.