Fire breaks out in Sundarbans again

A fire broke out once again at Andharmanik area of Chandpai Range in Sundarbans East Division this evening.

This is the fourth incident of fire in last one month in the area, reports our correspondent.  

The fire broke out at around 4:45pm beside Dhanshagor station, said Belayet Hossain, assistant forest conservator.

“Thick smoke was seen in that area and we tried to put it out soon afterwards,” said Hossain adding that the time and origin of the fire could not be determined immediately.

READ MORE: 3rd forest fire in Sundarbans in 3 weeks

A three-member probe committee, led by Hossain was formed following the incident, said Zahir Uddin, conservator of forest.

“Three fire service units from Bagerhat, Sharankhola and Moralganj reached at the spot and is trying to douse the fire,” said Manikuzzaman, deputy assistant director of Bagerhat Fire Service, at 9:00pm adding that the fire was still burning.

“At this moment, we can’t say how far it has spread,” he said.

READ MORE: Fire incidents posing threat to Sundarbans

Earlier this month, a fire broke out in the Dhanshagor station's Nangli forest camp area on March 27, another at Abdullah Shila of the range on April 18 and the third one on April 13.

In the last 14 years, there have been 21 fire incidents in Chandpai and Sharankhola ranges of the mangrove forest.