SAMAHNI (Kashmir English): The Rani Devati mountain range adjacent to Chowki Sabz Peer is completely engulfed in fire, leaving vast stretches of Samahni forest in flames.
The Forest Department officials and members of the civil society are actively engaged in firefighting efforts to put out the fire in Samahni forest, but the fire remains out of control.
Just a few days ago, a similar fire broke out in the forests of the Baroh mountain range. Thanks to the timely response of civil society members, that fire was successfully contained.
However, in today’s incident, unidentified miscreants are once again suspected of deliberately setting the forest near Chowki Sabz Peer ablaze.
The flames are approaching the area near the Sarsala mountain range. Many people in Sub-Division Samahni, including residents, social workers and supporters of the environment, are outraged by the frequent forest fires.
The public and social circles of the Samahni subdivision have condemned the fire set by the environmentally hazardous elements and demanded that the causes of the fire be prevented and cases be registered against the elements involved in setting the fire.
As of the latest updates, tourist spots Sona Valley and Tootan Ne Peil (توتاں ناں پیل) nearby forests have also been engulfed in flames. Forest Department officials are actively working to control the fire, but have not yet been able to bring it under full control.
With increasing forest fires and diminishing responsibility, a growing number of people are concerned about the region’s environment, prompting departments to respond more swiftly.
Past fires in Samahni forests
Recently, in March 2025, a devastating fire ravaged the forests of Samahni, Azad Kashmir, inflicting extensive damage on trees and wildlife habitats. Forest Department officials confirmed the loss of valuable timber while expressing concerns about irreversible harm to local biodiversity.
This Samahni forest fire incident mirrored previous disasters, notably the June 2022 fire that demolished ancient cedar trees near Jandi Chontra, Kalach, and Khizr Nagar. The intense fire knocked over an electrical transformer in Jandi Chontra, leading to power outages that lasted a long time in the region.
Combining forces, both the forest staff and civil society volunteers tried to contain the fire for several days but were not successful. The incident triggered people to point out that this kind of harm can reoccur easily and that the best way to stop it is to take early preventive steps.
