Fire in Damagundam forest, deliberate act says forest official

HYDERABAD: Around 40 acres of forest, mostly grassland, was turned to ashes on Thursday after some unknown persons set fire to it in Damagundam, in the portion of the forest that was given to the Indian Navy by the state government for setting up a radar station.

According to forest officials, the fire reportedly started in the morning and was found to have been extinguished around 8 pm. “Typically, fires in the forest occur towards end of December and up to the summer. A fire at this point of time clearly points to a deliberate act,” a forest department official said.

News of the fire broke after Satyananda Swami, popular as Damagundam Swami who runs an ashram near the famous Ramalingeswara Swamy temple in the forest, noticed it and alerted locals. “I informed the villagers and the forest department people were also told by the villagers about the fire. I think some 100 acres must have been burnt and there are clear orders from the courts that the forest area must be protected,” he said.