20 fire points in tiger reserve

Hyderabad: At least 20 fire points have been reported at the Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve, out of the 48 alerts reported from the Aqua and Terra US satellites. The data was filtered by the National Remote Sensing Centre.

Sensing trouble, forest officials at the tiger reserve have launched a large scale operation to douse the fires. Preventive measures have been stepped up.

With Ugadi approaching, fire safety in the forests acquires added importance as pilgrims trek to the Srisailam temple. They could set off fires as they camp in the forests and cook.

NSTR field director Rahul Pandey said, “We have started a checkpost to collect matches and beedis from the pilgrims after frisking them at the walking paths to the temple. Last year, we had collected nine gunny bags full of match boxes and beedis.”

Regarding fire alerts, Mr Pandey said that fire had broken out at 20 points in different sections such as the Pedda Cheruvu, Nagalooti and Pangidi, as this is the pilgrim season. By March 24, the rush increases and at least 4 lakh people trek to the temple from Nagalooti. Our men are now on 100 per cent fire protection duties. We are going to interior areas which can be reached only after walking for six hours in the forest.”

He said that the alerts were regarding surface fires. and said, “We have hired 400 labourers to put off the fire. The fire erupts due to friction when bamboos rub against each other.