The forest fires that erupted around the Similipal Wildlife Sanctuary in Mayurbhanj district have raised a concern over threat to its biodiversity.
Efforts are underway by the officials of Forest and Fire Services departments to control the fire detected at four places under Gurugudia and Talabandha ranges in Similipal on Monday.
The massive fire in Similipal had caused extensive damage last year. To avoid such casualty this summer, as many as 700 forest officials have been engaged to douse the flames in the dense forest, said official sources.
As many as 500 fire extinguishers have been kept ready and all types of arrangements have been made to control the fire, the forest authorities claimed.
The Forest Department has intensified community awareness involving villagers across all territorial and wildlife forest divisions to minimise fire outbreak in forests this year. In view of previous year’s devastation due to massive wildfire in Similipal, the Forest Department has conducted mock drills besides deploying mechanical fire blowers.
Meanwhile, five persons have been arrested on charges of setting fire to forests in Naana range in Similipal. The sole intention of the accused persons was to hunt wild animals as weapons and other equipment used for hunting have been seized from their possession, informed Similipal ACF Pradip Kumar Dey.
In the wake of raging fire, the day temperature in Baripada town in Mayurbhanj district touched 40 degree Celsius on Monday. The heat wave will continue across the district in coming days during the summer, warned the weathermen.