Sambalpur: A fire broke out on Saturday afternoon in the Lakshmidunguri hills, part of the reserved forest located alongside National Highway 53 in Sambalpur. The fire started in the dry grass and leaves at the foothills and quickly spread to the hilltop. Eventually, the flames approached the roadside, prompting some passersby to alert the fire department.
Upon receiving the information, officials from the Sambalpur Forest Department and the Burla Fire Brigade rushed to the spot. After nearly two hours of relentless efforts, they managed to bring the fire under control. However, by that time, the fire had already destroyed several valuable trees. Additionally, many small saplings planted for afforestation were also burned.
Key Highlights:
Many Valuable Trees Destroyed
Fire Brought Under Control by Fire Brigade
After controlling the fire, Burla Fire Officer Bharat Lal Ekka reported that the flames had spread from the hilltop, covering an area of nearly 200 meters, and were advancing towards the roadside. This posed a significant risk to vehicles, especially oil tankers, traveling on the national highway at the time. Therefore, the fire brigade prioritized extinguishing the flames near the road before gradually working their way up to control the fire spreading uphill.
Although some small trees and branches were burned, the officer confirmed that there was no major damage beyond this.