Forest fire doubles summer woes for Kandhamal people

Kandhamal: Kandhamal is on fire, literally. Fire in different forests along with the scorching summer made people’s life miserable across the district.

According to reports, a forest located in two sides of the road near Bhetakhole ghat, around 4 to 5 kilo meters away from the district headquarters Phulbani, caught fire and destroyed hundreds of tress.

“I saw the fire when I was going to market and no one from the forest department was here to douse the flame. There are hundreds of tress including some medicinal tress were destroyed. We are facing trouble as this fire is increasing the temperature in the locality which is already on reeling under intense heat wave,” said Lalit Kumar Pradah, a native of Sudreju village.

He also alleged that though it is the duty of forest official to check the reason behind such mishaps, it’s unfortunate not a single official from the forest department has turned up at the site.