Several villages evcuated as fire engulfed fields in Ratia

Fatehabad, May 6 (UNI) Several villages have been evacuated in the Ratia area of this district today as a major fire has engulfed agriculture fields of more that a dozen villages in the evening.

The fire broke out in the wheat straw lying in the agricultural fields in the evening today and spread due to a strong wind that followed soon after.

Agriculture fields of Chando Kalan, Chando Khurd, Rattan Garh, Shehanal, Phoolan, Jallopur and Mehmadki has been worst affected by the fire.

Flames of the inferno were threatening to swallow dwelling areas of some villages, even as residents are trying to avert the situation.

Several villages have been evacuated seeing the gravity of the situation.

Fire tenders have been called from Fatehabad and Hisar, but no fire tender had reached the site, when this report was filed.

Yogesh Mehta, SDM, Ratia, who has been overseeing rescue operations at the site confirmed that the inferno is too big to control immediately.

He said that it was too premature to assess loss of property, and said no loss of life has been reported so far.

UNI XC JN BK2300