Another wildfire breaks out in Sariska Tiger Reserve

In a statement, the forest department on Monday said the fourth fire in a week was reported from the reserve’s Jahajwala area on Sunday

JAIPUR: A fire broke out at Sariska Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan’s Alwar on Sunday and spread to around a three-square km area. Officials said 50% of the fourth fire in a week in the reserve has been doused. They hoped the blaze will be completely controlled by Monday evening.

India Air Force earlier deployed two helicopters to douse a fire at the reserve. (ANI)

In a statement, the state forest department on Monday said the latest fire was reported from the reserve’s Jahajwala around 12.30 pm. It added that three fire tenders were called to douse the fire and that no loss of life was reported. The statement said forest personnel and villagers were also helping in controlling the fire.

Tigers ST- 08 and ST-15 generally move in the Jahajwala area. The statement said their movement was not reported there on Sunday and Monday.

The fire that earlier broke out across a 10 square km area of Baleta forest has been brought under control. The aerial distance between Baleta and Jahajwala is around 6 km. Two choppers of the Indian Air Force were earlier pressed into service last week to douse the fire in Baleta.

On March 30, the first fire was reported at Baleta. Another fire was reported over a 2-hectare area on April 1 in Nadu. On April 2, a 1-hectare area was affected because of the third fire in Malajodka.