Massive fire in Sariska Tiger Reserve, IAF choppers deployed

The fire was first noticed on Sunday. The next day, officials tried to get it under control, without much success; strong winds ensured that the blaze reached the hills, Meena said in a statement. Authorities then called in the Disaster Management Department.

On Tuesday, Air Force Helicopters sprinkled water on affected areas and the fire in the hills was partially extinguished, said Meena. The helicopter operations will continue, said the statement.

At the behest of Alwar Dist admin to help control the spread of fire over large areas of #SariskaTigerReserve, @IAF_MCC has deployed two Mi 17 V5 heptrs to undertake #BambiBucket ops.

Fire Fighting Operations are underway since early morning today.#आपत्सुमित्रम pic.twitter.com/HhGEHsdYrS

— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) March 29, 2022

At least nine tigers, including cubs, are known to move around in the area which has been affected by fire, forest officials said.

“Sariska has a total of 27 tigers. Around nine tigers including four adult tigers and tigress and five cubs/sub-adults are known to move around in the area in Akbarpur where the fire has broken out. Some of the tigers that move around in the area include tigers ST-14, ST-17 and ST-23,” said a senior forest official who didn’t wish to be named.

The official added that the place affected by the fire is a thick forest area.

Around 200 forest officials, drivers, nature guides and residents of nearby villages have been called in to help, said the statement.

Meena said fire’s cause is yet to be ascertained.

Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Head of Forest Force), Deep Naryan Pandey said that more than 100 forest staff have been sent to the fire affected area.

“Tropical dry forests are fire prone because they contain high fuel. This time the fire has spread from the top of the hill. Our main concern in a 3-4 square kilometre area was for a mother and her two cubs. The fire was proceeding towards that direction but the helicopters managed to extinguish the fire. The peripheral fire could be controlled. The government is taking all prompt measures to control the fire. One advantage in the context of tigers is that in tropical dry forest fires, bigger animals can run away and escape the flames and the main casualties are smaller animals such as reptiles. There are no villages in the area. We have sent hundred people from three divisions today to Sariska. The IAF helicopters will continue their operations. We are hoping that the fire will be controlled by tomorrow,” said Pandey.