India experienced its first heatwave of the season, bringing with it dangerous forest fires. The fire also affected protected areas, including a nature reserve in the western part of the country. At least 48 fires have been reported since last week, with authorities fearing arsonists may be behind some of them.
Forest fires have been raging in northern and western regions of India for several days. At least 48 fires have broken out in state and private forests since March 5, local media reported. They are associated with the first heatwave of the season, but in some cases, starting the fire may have been a deliberate action.
“The forest caught fire for the third time”
A particularly dangerous fire occurred in the state of Goa, in the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary. For the first time, the fire broke out there more than a week ago, on Saturday, March 4. Firefighters and park services are fighting the element, and the inhabitants of the surrounding villages are also helping to put out the fire.
“This morning, the forest caught fire for the third time,” said Sayaji Sawant, a member of the council of one of the surrounding villages, on Sunday. – We called the forest department and the Ministry of Forestry. Authorities sent a firefighting helicopter, now the fire is under control.
A Goa state police spokesman said one person was arrested on Saturday while attempting to set fire to the Mhadei reserve. The provincial government has launched an investigation into fires in the forest ecosystem, which is inhabited, among others, by tigers, Indian leopards and many rare species of deer.
Reserve fire in IndiaReuters
Reserve fire in IndiaReuters
Reserve fire in IndiaReuters
Main photo source: Reuters