Fire spreads in 76 spots in Baripada division in Odisha

Fire has engulfed in reserve forest divisions under Baripada territorial, Rairangpur, Karanjia, Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) north and STR south, while efforts to tackle the situation were underway in other locations.

Though it is unclear if the forest fire is man-made or due to the act done by poachers to aid their hunting activities.

As per the sources, many poachers have been arrested in the last three years for deliberately causing forest fires and country made guns, nets and other items seized from their possession.

Contacted, deputy director (DD) of STR South Samrat Gowda said at least 15 fire points were identified in Similipal and its peripheral areas under the south jurisdiction and fire personnel deployed in those areas to control further spread.