At least two people were arrested on Monday on the charge of setting fire in Jodibill Reserve Forest near Similipal National Park in Odisha...
At least two people were arrested on Monday on the charge of setting fire in Jodibill Reserve Forest near Similipal National Park in Odisha, reported PTI. The fire began early in March and has so far claimed one life.
Sandeep Tripathy, the chief of forest fire task force, said the Odisha government was making all out efforts to contain the fire and to keep it under control. “All field staff have been directed to be on full alert and be on vigil to mitigate the fire situation,” Tripathy said. “They will be joined by fire squads and other staff of the forest division, the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force, fire department staff in association with panchayati raj institutions, self help groups, Vana Surakhya Samiti and local communities.”
The task force chief said the prevailing high temperature and low humidity conditions were helping the fire to spread despite sporadic rains. However, Tripathy said, the fire could be controlled as the meteorological office has forecast rain in the next 3-4 days in some parts of the state.
He pointed out that the large forest fires, especially those in hotter and vulnerable areas, were being dealt with on a priority basis. “The field staff are on full alert and...
