Forest Fire Breaks Out In Tinikosia Forest In Odisha's Balasore

A fire broke out at Bhalukasuni area of Tinikosia reserved forest in Balasore district on Friday triggering major concerns among locals and environmentalists.

Many residents of the area stepped up operation to douse the flames. However, forest officials had not arrived at the spot to bring the flames under control till the latest reports were filed. 

While the exact reason behind the forest fire is yet to be ascertained, it is suspected to have happened either due to natural causes in the wake of rising day temperature or reckless act of some mischief-mongers.

Meanwhile, the Forest Department has cited low awareness as the reason behind such frequent incidents. 

Odisha reported 51,968 forest fires between November 2020 and June 2021 — the highest in India for the period and five-fold surge in the number of incidents as compared to the preceding year, according to the Union Ministry for Environment.

A series of massive fire incidents wreaked severe destruction in a large tract of Similipal Reserve last year.