LOWER DIR: The district administration has directed Rescue 1122 firefighters and officials of forest department to reach Amlok Dara and Macho hill after they succeeded to put out a major wildfire in Ghazo, Osakai and Barchari forests.

The fire broke out in the dense forest of Macho and Amlok Dara Talash near Jalil Baba here on Saturday. Taking notice of the calls of forest owners, Deputy Commissioner Wasil Khan directed assistant commissioner, Tariq Khan, to take action in that regard.

A large number of local volunteers rushed to the site and started a fire extinguishing operation but they could not succeed despite making hectic efforts for several hours.

Rescue 1122 firefighters along with officials of forest department and Dir Levies also reached the spot and started efforts to put out the fire but to no avail. Eyewitnesses said that the fire engulfed a large portion of the forest within four hours.

Blaze extinguished in Ghazo, Osakai, Barcharai and Badwan areas

An official of the forest department said that frequent incidents of forest fires were occurring due to dried up vegetation, hot weather and speedy wind. He asked locals to cooperate with forest department in preventing such incidents.

Meanwhile, a major forest fire that broke out in the mountains of Ghazo, Osakai, Barcharai and Badwan five days ago was extinguished.

Abdur Rehman, an official of Rescue 1122, told local journalists that the forest fire was controlled on Saturday.

\He said that scores of firefighters from Lower Dir, Swat and Malakand along with officials of forest and wildlife departments, Dir Levies, Frontier Corps, civil defence and local volunteers succeeded to extinguish the fire on the fifth day.

He said that several workers were slightly injured while some fainted during the operation.

ACCIDENT: Four persons including women were injured when a car plunged into a deep ravine in Walai Kandao area in the limits of Balambat police station on Saturday.

Rescue 1122 medical team rushed to the site and shifted the injured to the district headquarters hospital in Timergara after providing them first aid.

Published in Dawn, June 2nd, 2024