Raging forest fire poses a threat to Jim Corbett National Park

Corbett National Park (Rudraprayag), May 3 : A fire that has been raging in the forests of Uttarakhand for nearly a week now poses a threat to the famed Jim Corbett National Park.

According to official reports, parts of the park have already been ravaged in the fire.

Rajiv Bhartri, director of the park said that only the southern part of the part has caught fire till now, but the situation is tense.

"The temperature is rising and the air is also hot as a result of which the forest and nearby areas have caught fire. The news till this morning is that incidents of minor fire were restricted to the southern part of the sanctuary," said Bhartri.

Fire-fighters have been deployed at the site and tourists have been asked to cut short their visit and leave the place.

"I do not know what the situation is exactly, but I have come with my family. I do not know what to do and when we would be allowed to go ahead with our outing here," said Suresh, a tourist.

A fire is raging over hundreds of hectares in this hilly region destroying the forest cover and adding to the pollution levels.

But what is worrying the forest officials and the environmentalists is the panic that the fire has sparked off among the animals.

Meanwhile, the fire continues to rage in the forests in Uttarakhand. Residents in Rudraprayag said the forest fires are almost an annual phenomenon during the hot summer season.

According to forest officials, the fire is a result of the dry spell and controlling it in the hilly terrain is not easy.

A similar forest fire in 2007 claimed at least two to three lives and injured many.

The forest fires besides destroying forest cover damages soil, grasses, medicinal plants and wildlife and cause rise in temperature, pollution and deplete water table.

ANI