SWABI: Firefighters on Friday failed to control the fire that broke out in the famous Karamar Mountain here on Thursday as a lack of water supply and strong winds hampered their efforts.

Around 50 firefighters are reported to have been participating in the operation under the supervision of Haroon Rashid, the Swabi district emergency officer.

Locals told Dawn that Karamar Mountain, also known as Ster Baba, was one of the highest peaks in the district, and reaching even to middle of it took about four hours.

The district administration officials had to call in the firefighters from Tarbela Dam, Gadoon Amazai Industrial Estate and Mardan to douse the flame.

Luqman Khan, a rescue official, said difficulty in reaching the high mountain and extremely hot weather added to their woes. “The fast blowing wind is causing the fire to spread fast to other areas,” he added.

When contacted, Haroon Rashid told Dawn that they had brought the fire under control from the Ismaila side and were now trying to put it out from the Khat Kalay side.

The locals said the fire had turned into ashes precious trees.

The district administration officials hoped with the help of locals the firefighters would be able to extinguish the blaze as soon as possible.

Published in Dawn, June 19th, 2021