Wildfires rage on in Kohistan

MANSEHRA: Wildfires, which have erupted in various places in Kohistan region, have destroyed many forests.“The wildfires, which have erupted in Suo, Dasu and Dubair areas, have destroyed widely stretched jungles and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa forest department has yet to take measures to put out the fires,” Abdul Malik Saghar, a local, told reporters.

The wildfires, which had erupted in Zaidkhar, Kundo Banda, Kundo Zaili and Kundo Banda Sheikhabad forests in Suo tehsil and Ichar Nullah in Dasu tehsil of Upper Kohistan and Dubair Bala in Lower Kohistan earlier this week couldn’t be extinguished.

“The fires have engulfed more areas destroying trees but the Forest Department couldn’t initiate any effective measures to put them out to avert more losses,” Saghar said.He said the wildfires could affect the nearby settlements if efforts were not made to extinguish it.

“The flora and fauna have been wiped out in the forests, which are under fire and if blaze was

not brought under control it might spread to the nearby settlements,” Saghar said. He said residents in the Zaidkhar, Kundo Banda and Kundo Banda Sheikhabad and Kundo Zaili areas of Suo tehsil in Upper Kohistan demanded the government to take measures to contain the raging flames.