Helicopter used to douse forest fire in Attappadi

PALAKKAD: The forest department has to seek the service of a helicopter to fight the devastating fire that broke out at two locations of Malleswara peak, the highest peak in the Attappadi forests, on Saturday. A Navy helicopter was provided by the state disaster management authority to take water to the peak, said Anchal Krishnakumar, a senior official of the forest department.

Forest fires have been reported in 18 locations of Attappadi and Agali ranges since Wednesday. Nearly 200 officials of Mannarkad forest division and Silent Valley National Park were trying to douse the fire. They succeeded in bringing the fire under control in all except two locations of Malleswara peak, where it was difficult to access. That was why the service of the helicopter was required.

During last month, forest fire had engulfed more than 500 hectares of forest in Attappadi, the officials of the Mannarkkad forest division said. But environmentalists Radhakrishna Kurup and M Sukumaran said more than 1,000 hectares of forest were destroyed in the fire during the period. They said in Attappadi, Agali and Bhavani forest ranges, more than 250 hectors of forest were gutted on Thursday alone.

Even in the highly protected Bhavani range in Silent Valley National Park, a forest fire occurred this time, the officials said. They said in the border areas, officials of Tamil Nadu forest department were helping to fight the fire.

Meanwhile, Mannarkkad DFO K K Sunil Kumar said in many areas prone to forest fire, the forest department had taken preventive actions including making fire lines.