CHIKKAMAGALUR, RAMANAGARA: Massive fires have destroyed large swathes of forest at Mavinahola-Balige Gudda near Hornadu in Kalasa taluk. The fire has destroyed rare plant species and affected animal and avian life.
The fire, which started on Tuesday evening, spread quickly due to the wind even as the Forest Department staff and locals tried hard to bring it under control. Curiously, Kalasa does not have a fire station and fire tenders arrive from other taluks in case of a fire accident.
The Forest Department staff, locals and the fire services personnel fought the forest fire till midnight and managed to bring it under control. However, the fire has destroyed a lot of rare flora and fauna. It is suspected that the fire may have been caused to the increasing heat.
In another incident, the Forest Department has arrested one person, identified as Rajappa (42) who had set fire to the forest in the Sangam wildlife range near Doddalahalli in Kanakapura taluk of Ramanagara district. About 30 acres of forest was destroyed and Rajappa claimed he had set fire so that fresh grass would grow.
Rajappa had taken his sheep for grazing on Tuesday and saw dried grass. He set fire to it thinking that fresh green grass would be fodder for his sheep. A patrol team had spotted the fire and put it out. A case has been registered against the shepherd for unauthorised entry into the forest and destroying it.