UNB, Bagerhat :
A fire broke out on Monday morning at Daser Bharani area under Sharankhola Range of Sundarbans East Forest Division.
The flames could not be doused while filing this report at around 6:15 pm, according to Bagerhat correspondent
Two units of Sharankhola Fire Service and Civil Defense Station as well as the forest department are working together to bring the fire under control.
East Sundarbans Sharankhola Station Officer (SO) Abdul Mannan said that they could find out about the fire at around 9 am. His team along with 25-30 forest rangers reached the spot at around 11 am and tried to bring the flames under control.
Later they were joined by two units of fire service.
According to Sharankhola Fire Service Station Officer-in-Charge Abdul Chattar, “Due to lack of water, the fire service team struggled to make any progress. So we decided to build a 2km long pipeline connecting the site of fire and Bhola river. “
However, the construction work of the pipe were not completed while filing the report.
Mohammad Belayet Hossain, divisional forest officer (DFO) of the Sundarbans East Forest Department confirmed the incident of fire to UNB.
“We started cutting fire canals around the site to stop the fire from spreading. We are hopeful that will be able to put out the fire very soon,” Belayet said.
The DFO also added that a three member committee will be set up to investigate the cause of fire and amount of loss.
“They have to submit their reports within seven working days, ” he concluded.
According to locals, the fire has already spread to large areas of forest. It will not be possible to control the fire very easily as there is no water nearby.
They have alleged that some unscrupulous people often enter the forest illegally to collect honey. They collect honey from beehives by lighting torches. This fire might have started from the fire of their burning torch.
Earlier on 8 February, a fire at Dhansagar station under Chandpai range of the Sundarbans East Division had burnt down at least four decimals of forestland.
