Sundarbans fire under control after overnight effort

The fire that broke out in the forest near Tepar Beel area under Kolomteji Camp in Dhansagar forest station of the Sundarbans East Division yesterday has been brought under control.

Dhansagar station's Officer Bipuleshwar Debnath confirmed the development this morning, saying that although fire service personnel left in the evening, the forest department continued efforts to douse the flames using pumps and pipelines from 9:00pm yesterday.

More than 100 local volunteers, along with forest guards and officials, worked through the night to contain the blaze, he said.

Fire service teams returned to the site around 8:00am today, while forest officials and local volunteers continued monitoring the area for any lingering embers to prevent reignition.

Meanwhile, a three-member investigation committee, led by Assistant Forest Conservator (ACF) Dwipan Chandra Das of the Chandpai Range, has been formed to determine the cause of the fire. The committee has been instructed to submit its report soon.

According to locals and forest department sources, the fire was first spotted by locals around 9:00am yesterday. The forest department, along with locals, attempted to locate and extinguish the flames by noon. By afternoon, five units of the fire service arrived to assist.

To contain the fire, responders created a firebreak spanning about 1.5 kilometers using dry leaves and soil drains.