Major fire breaks out in Tapi, Dang forests, India

SURAT: Forests spread over 12 hectares of area near Vadi Rupgadh village in Bardipada range in south Gujarat's Tapi and Dang districts were affected in a major fire that broke out on Friday. However, the forest officials were yet to assess the exact loss to the green cover and wildlife.

"We could see fire in the three hills in the dark. We feared it could spread towards our village," a tribal from Vadi Rupgadh village said.

Dried leaves and wood in Mahal forests of Dang and Temkanaka of Tapi districts caught fire and it soon spread to other parts of the jungle, forest officials said.

"The fire was extinguished in the night itself. However, we are alert. The fire spread in around 12 hectares of forests of Tapi and Dang districts. The area affected by the fire in Tapi was approximately six hectares," deputy conservator of forest, Vyara in Tapi district, B G Prajapati said. Read More