Red alert as Sundarbans fire rages on

Four fire fighting units and forest officials have been trying to put out the blaze but continuous heat wave and rough wind are making it difficult, Bagerhat fire service deputy director Md Maniquzzaman says

The Forest Department has banned entry to the Sarankhola Range, a day after suspending entry to Chandpai following a devastating fire in the Sundarbans.

On Friday, it ordered people, who were already in the forest to catch fish, collect honey and firewood, to leave immediately.

Sundarbans, the world’s largest mangrove forest has a fragile ecosystem. Much of the wildlife is unique to this region, which has been a world heritage site in 1997.

Khulna circle Conservator of Forests Zahir Uddin Ahmed told the Dhaka Tribune that they had kept the Sarankhola and Chandpai ranges on high alert and restricted human entrance.

He said that they issued the alert due to frequent fire incidents in the past one month and that it would remain effective until further notice.

Four fire fighting units and forest officials have been trying to put out the blaze but continuous heat wave and rough wind are making it difficult, Bagerhat fire service deputy director Md Maniquzzaman said.

On Thursday, the Forest Department declared high alert in Chandpai Range after four incidents of fire in the forest’s Nangli camp area in last one month.

Earlier, fire broke out thrice near the Nangli forest camp – on April 18, April 13 and March 27, a forest department source said.

There have been at least 20 fire incidents in Chandpai and Sharankhola ranges in the past 14 years.

Source: Dhaka Tribune