Forest fire raging unabated, two women from  the village Soondu  under Garhwal forest division have sustained serious burn injuries on Thursday when they moved  out to  stop the  flames from spreading. They were rushed to hospital. 

The forest fire is  still leaping wildly, engulfing the areas in the vicinity of   the regional and district headquarters in Pauri.

The divisional forest officer, Garhwal division Ramesh Chandra claimed that the  blaze has been put out in most  of the areas  in and around Pauri that went under the forest fire.  “However, on getting information of  fire spreading to Khirsu and Thapliyal villages,  forest teams have been rushed there on Thursday,” he added.

Former Nagar Palika president Jaspal Singh Negi and others like a social activist Bhagwan Verma and Retired Government Employees’ Association president Chandi Prasad Naithani alleged that the garbage and waste product  dumped and burnt by Pauri Nagar Palika Parishad indiscriminately had spawned the forest fire that spread to Pauri. They  said more infernos are in store as  the civic body has been ignoring with impunity the order of  the National Green Tribunal.

Sources said that three houses  and one cow- shed were among others that have been ravaged in the fire  in village Nishani under Yamkeshwar block. 

D FO Ramesh Chandra said that  70180 hector forests are under Garhwal Forest division and 155 fire watchmen aside from others have been deputed to control the forest fire. “Though nor having adequate  staff strength, we could have controlled the fire had the villagers extended their full co-operation,” he said.