HARIPUR/KOHAT: A wildfire that broke out on Saturday continued to cause damage to flora in the scenic Makhniyal forest range in Haripur.

However, villagers and police said that no loss of life was reported in the area. They said that the first forest fire incident was reported in Neelan Bhoto village on Wednesday where some people threw a burning cigarette near Diano valley picnic point and the dried up grass suddenly caught fire engulfing several acres of forestland.

The wildfire, according to locals, damaged both new and matured trees. The fire was extinguished by forest officials and locals after several hours of efforts.

“The fire erupted in the private forest of Neelan Bhoto and spread out to reserved forest, damaging about 15 hectares of forestland,” said a forest official, who took part in the rescue operation.

Officials say three incidents reported in Haripur

Locals said that the fire also damaged some portion of forest in Makhniyal village. “Three fire incidents in this season have so far been reported in Makhniyal forest range, two have been controlled while the third one that started from ICT’s territory on May 27 and entered Kotla forest yesterday is still raging. It is expected to be put out by this evening,” said an official.

He said that a heavy fire broke out in the forest area of Shahdara, Islamabad, on May 27 and eventually entered Kotla forest of Makhniyal in Haripur due to gusty winds.

He said that the fire destroyed around 50 hectares of forestland before it was put out. He said that Haripur forest division had taken up the case of forestland’s loss with ICT so that the accused, if arrested, for setting ablaze forestland in Shahdara area could be interrogated for the loss of Haripur.

The third fire incident during the last four days was reported on Saturday night on Kotla side of Makhniyal. It started from the bordering village of Gokina in Islamabad and spread out to the reserved forest of Kotla and was still raging.

“The staffers of CDA have controlled it on their side while we are still fighting to put it out,” said an official, taking part in the operation.

About the total loss of flora, he said that situation report would be compiled once the fire was extinguished.

The district officer forest, Sardar Farhad, was not available for comments.

Meanwhile, firefighters and locals struggled on Sunday to douse a bushfire in Sunnikhel area of Darra Adamkhel.

Earlier, a bushfire had broken out in the jungle area of the hilly track in Kohat district close to the wildlife park. Rescue 1122 firefighters and water tankers were dispatched to Sunnikhel to control the fire. The fire was put out after seven hours of hectic efforts.

Published in Dawn, June 3rd, 2024