Forest fires start in Sarlahi

BY A STAFF REPORTER,Sarlahi, Feb. 5: Wildfire started in Sarlahi in the first week of February. The fire started especially in Sagarnath Forest Development Project's Palot area. 

It is said that the local residents and herdsmen have set fire in the Palot area, which is a grazing area, so the grass will grow quickly.

Fires have broken out in Phuljor, Sagarnath, Raniganj, Dharahara and other areas of the project. Due to the lack of awareness about setting fires in the forest area, the vegetation will be destroyed, the wild animals will be in danger and air pollution will increase, experts said.

Chief of the Division Forest Office Sarlahi Manjur Ahmed said that forest guards and other staff are working together to put out the fires in one or two places. 

Ahmed has said that it will be difficult to save the forest area from fire unless the local people are aware and active.

Due to the lack of rain in winter this year, drought has increased in the districts of Terai Madhes. As a result, forest fires started from mid-January.

Fires break out everywhere in February and March when there is usually a lot of dryness in the forests. This year, due to the lack of rain, there has been an increase in extreme dryness, so the fires have started.

With the start of the dry season, wild animals like wild boars and deer in the forests have started coming to human settlements and farmers' fields. At this time, the burning of those wild animals is increasing.