May 23, 2008	Friday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 17, 1429

MIANWALI, May 22: A cluster of naturally-grown trees, wild grass and bushes over salt range mountains caught fire owing to lightning early on Thursday near Thamewali union council, about 45kms from Mianwali. The fire spread to many kilometres within hours as no measures were taken to extinguish it.

There is no population on and around these mountains which are now in the control of the Defence Services of Pakistan. None of the inhabitants of the locality is allowed to go pass a certain area and, hence, fire-extinguishing efforts are impossible without the nod of the defence authorities.

These mountains were inhabited by the locals and were a rich grazing field for their herds until one year ago when the Defence services acquired the range and immediately denied access of the people.

Even the police could not get access to the place for any help or to save the flora, Chakrala SHO Riaz Warraich told Dawn. The SHO and his force stood as helpless a few kilometres away from the site as were ordinary citizens.

The revenue authorities termed the fire harmless, confirming that “there is no populated area or forest vegetation over these mountains. Only small tress, bushes and wild grass are the victim.”

Mianwali DPO Tassaduq Husain told this correspondent that they were not allowed to go near the area as the armed unit deployed around mountains denied any help from the district administration.

A large number of people from Mianwali and surrounding areas rushed to Thamewali to have a glimpse of the massive fire over the mountains which has been seen for the first time in this district. Smoke and flames could be seen several miles away from the mountains till last reports came in at night.