Aircraft to douse raging forest fire in Seshachalam biosphere
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HYDERABAD: Authorities have decided to use two C130 aircraft to douse
the raging forest fire in Seshachalam biosphere in Chittoor district.
Two MI-17 helicopters will also be used on Thursday to assess the damage
caused by the major forest fire. Air Force meanwhile has agreed to
depute 100 personnel to help fight the raging fire.
The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams is coordinating with forest officials in controlling the flames as the fire threatens the two pedestrian pathways that lead to the famous shrine on the Tirumala hills. TTD executive officer MG Gopal on Wednesday evening said the TTD has taken several fire fighting measures to arrest the forest fire which engulfed vast area in Seshachalam ranges.
He said two MI-17 copters will reach Tirumala and do the aerial survey on Thursday morning and assess to what extent the fire has destroyed the forest belt in Tirumala and also calculate mitigation measures. The copters will drive water from KP dam and Gogarbham dams to prevent the fire.
These copters will take aerial survey in the fire mishap area of the forest leaving of the "No Fly Zone" area of Tirumala temple abiding to the Agama rules.
As per the final reports reaching the forest fire (flame width about 300 m) is moving in north-eastern direction and so far about 400 hectares of forest cover burnt to ashes in this major mishap. However there is no threat to Tirumala and the pilgrims are appealed not to feel panic and they can have their pilgrimage to Tirumala, he said.
Special team of fire extinguishing experts (disaster management) from Arakonam and Visakha Naval base will reach Tirumala and they will do their best to arrest the fire with chemicals and foam sprays.
A 24-hour control room will be operated from EO camp office in Tirumala with Tirumala JEO KS Srinivasa Raju, and other officials closely monitoring the fire fighting activity
The Wildlife DFO is also contacted to see that the fauna will not enter into the human habitation areas in Tirumala. Shop keepers in Papavinasanam area have been evacuated and shifted to safe places.
About 500 workers belonging to engineering, forest and health departments of TTD were pressed into the activity to halt the fire menace in Tirumala ranges.
Srinivasa Raju said TTD has made elaborate arrangements to stop the forest fire. "It is very unfortunate that a massive forest fire swallowed up a vast area of forest belt in Tirumala ranges. On Tuesday evening the forest fire caught up but in the night though it appeared to have slowed down, due to heavy winds in Kakulakona area, it has multiplied to other areas. We have stalled the conventional windmill power due to the forest fire. We are also contemplating to use advance technology to put an end to this menace after discussing with Agama pundits. We are thankful to the mercy of Lord that this incident took place a day after Tumburu Teertham which witnessed heavy turnout of pilgrims in deep forests on the occasion. However we cannot draw a conclusion at this preliminary stage that whether this is a man made error or not", he said.
The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams is coordinating with forest officials in controlling the flames as the fire threatens the two pedestrian pathways that lead to the famous shrine on the Tirumala hills. TTD executive officer MG Gopal on Wednesday evening said the TTD has taken several fire fighting measures to arrest the forest fire which engulfed vast area in Seshachalam ranges.
He said two MI-17 copters will reach Tirumala and do the aerial survey on Thursday morning and assess to what extent the fire has destroyed the forest belt in Tirumala and also calculate mitigation measures. The copters will drive water from KP dam and Gogarbham dams to prevent the fire.
These copters will take aerial survey in the fire mishap area of the forest leaving of the "No Fly Zone" area of Tirumala temple abiding to the Agama rules.
As per the final reports reaching the forest fire (flame width about 300 m) is moving in north-eastern direction and so far about 400 hectares of forest cover burnt to ashes in this major mishap. However there is no threat to Tirumala and the pilgrims are appealed not to feel panic and they can have their pilgrimage to Tirumala, he said.
Special team of fire extinguishing experts (disaster management) from Arakonam and Visakha Naval base will reach Tirumala and they will do their best to arrest the fire with chemicals and foam sprays.
A 24-hour control room will be operated from EO camp office in Tirumala with Tirumala JEO KS Srinivasa Raju, and other officials closely monitoring the fire fighting activity
The Wildlife DFO is also contacted to see that the fauna will not enter into the human habitation areas in Tirumala. Shop keepers in Papavinasanam area have been evacuated and shifted to safe places.
About 500 workers belonging to engineering, forest and health departments of TTD were pressed into the activity to halt the fire menace in Tirumala ranges.
Srinivasa Raju said TTD has made elaborate arrangements to stop the forest fire. "It is very unfortunate that a massive forest fire swallowed up a vast area of forest belt in Tirumala ranges. On Tuesday evening the forest fire caught up but in the night though it appeared to have slowed down, due to heavy winds in Kakulakona area, it has multiplied to other areas. We have stalled the conventional windmill power due to the forest fire. We are also contemplating to use advance technology to put an end to this menace after discussing with Agama pundits. We are thankful to the mercy of Lord that this incident took place a day after Tumburu Teertham which witnessed heavy turnout of pilgrims in deep forests on the occasion. However we cannot draw a conclusion at this preliminary stage that whether this is a man made error or not", he said.
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