Alert Authorities Battle Raging Forest Fire Threatening Vaishno Devi Shrine in J&K's Trikuta Hills
- Posted on January 21, 2024
- Accidents and Disasters
- By Arijit Dutta
- 205 Views
A raging forest fire near the Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu and Kashmir's Trikuta hills has triggered alarm. Officials are battling to prevent the blaze from reaching the revered temple. Local reports suggest wildlife casualties and extensive damage to the forest. The Shrine Board and Forest Department are on high alert.
In
a concerning turn of events, a formidable forest fire is currently wreaking
havoc near the iconic Vaishno
Devi shrine situated in the picturesque Trikuta hills of Jammu and Kashmir's
Reasi district. The blaze, which erupted in the forested expanse of the Trikuta
Parvat mountains, is perilously close to the revered Shri Mata Vaishno Devi
Bhavan, prompting authorities to be on high alert.
Efforts
to control the raging inferno are underway, given the potential threat it poses
to the sacred temple and its surroundings. The fire, once confined to the
forested areas, has gained significant control, causing visible damage to the
pristine landscape. Disturbing reports also indicate casualties among the local
wildlife, further underscoring the severity of the situation.
The Shrine Board and the Forest Department were swiftly alerted upon receiving information about the escalating fire. Their joint efforts aim to contain and eventually extinguish the flames, emphasizing the critical importance of preventing the fire from reaching the pilgrimage site. Local residents provide reassurance that, as of now, the Yatra route of Mata Vaishno Devi Ji remains unaffected.
Despite
the ongoing firefighting endeavors, concerns persist over the unpredictable
nature of the blaze. Authorities fear that if not promptly subdued, the fire
could potentially escalate and encroach upon the track leading to the sacred
shrine. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the delicate balance
between nature and human structures, necessitating a robust response to
safeguard both the religious site and the surrounding ecological landscape.
The situation highlights the need for collaborative efforts to combat such natural calamities, with authorities and local communities working hand in hand to protect cultural and environmental treasures. As the firefighting operations intensify, there is a collective hope that the blaze will be brought under control before it inflicts further damage on the culturally significant Vaishno Devi shrine and its surroundings.