ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): A major Margalla Hills fire broke out on Monday near Jungle Number 15 at Saidpur Darra and close to the Rumli area, raising serious environmental concerns and damaging valuable forest land.
Officials from the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) confirmed that teams were immediately dispatched to tackle the blaze.
Personnel from both the IWMB and the Capital Development Authority (CDA) are on site, working to control the fire. However, strong winds are making their job more difficult.
“All available resources are being deployed to bring the fire under control quickly,” an IWMB spokesperson said.
The Margalla Hills fire has not resulted in any reported casualties or property damage so far. Still, the threat of the fire spreading remains high due to dry conditions and wind pressure.
Additional firefighting crews have been rushed in to strengthen the response.
Umar Bilal, spokesperson for the IWMB, stated that high wind pressure is severely hampering efforts to contain the flames. He added that teams are on high alert and doing everything they can to prevent the blaze from spreading further.
The Margalla Hills fire is not an isolated incident. In the months of April to June each year, the area regularly experiences fire outbreaks, mainly because of the dry climate and people’s carelessness.
Many times, people throw away cigarettes, leave unattended fires and leave other flammable materials which start the fires.
Margalla Hills National Park covers an area of 12,600 hectares and is very susceptible to damage in the summer. The blazes often only end when the monsoon rains come in July.
Authorities are working hard to stop the spread of the Margalla Hills fire as the crisis unfolds. It is important for both residents and those on holiday to be vigilant and let authorities know about any new hotspots to prevent further harm to the area.
