Nagpur: A devastating fire engulfed Compartment Numbers 490, 491, and 492 of the Gorewada Project, situated within the Gorewada forest area, on Thursday afternoon, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. The inferno, whose cause remains unknown, prompted a swift response from the Fire and Emergency Department of the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC), with two fire engines dispatched immediately to combat the blaze.
Despite the concerted efforts of approximately 100 firefighters and forest personnel, it took a grueling five hours to bring the raging fire under control. By then, the flames had already devoured an estimated 40-50 hectares of the forest area, causing extensive damage to the natural habitat.
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Tuesday 01 Oct. 2024
Shatnik Bhagwat, Director of the Gorewada Project, relayed details of the incident, stating, “Within a few hours of the fire breaking out, fire engines and forest men, around 100 of them, succeeded in extinguishing the wild fire. The reason for the fire, however, is yet to be identified.” Fortunately, there were no reported casualties, and no loss of property occurred as a result of the blaze.
Bhagwat further elaborated on the fire’s origins, noting that it originated from the Dabha side of the project and spread towards the Gorewada International Zoo. However, proactive measures, including the use of blowers and fire engines, prevented the flames from encroaching upon the enclosures housing the zoo’s wild animals.
“The Balasaheb Thackeray Gorewada International Zoo strictly prohibits the entry of individuals carrying flammable items such as lighters and cigarettes. Fortunately, this incident occurred far away from the zoo premises, which is a positive outcome. Our team has already commenced an investigation to determine the cause of the fire,” Bhagwat added, emphasizing the urgency of identifying and addressing any potential risks to prevent similar incidents in the future.
As authorities continue their inquiries into the fire’s cause, residents and environmentalists express concern over the ecological repercussions of the blaze and call for enhanced measures to safeguard the region’s biodiversity and prevent such disasters from recurring.
