Sundarbans fire under control

 
The fire that broke out in the Amurbunia area at Chandpai range of the Sundarbans East Zone on Saturday afternoon is now under control, said the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

The fire did not spread to the top of the trees or branches, only spread sporadically above the ground, it claimed in its statement on Sunday.

Apart from the forest department, several units of Fire Service, Navy, Police, district administration, upazila administration, public representatives Community Patrol Groups, volunteers and local people are providing assistance in extinguishing the fire. Besides, an Air Force helicopter also assisted in extinguishing the fire by sprinkling water from above, it added.

According to the statement, the Forest Department workers, Fire Service,  and other related government agencies reached the spot immediately after the fire was first reported on Saturday at around 3.30 pm.

Forest department personnel started cutting fire lines around the fire with the help of local community patrolling groups, village tiger response teams and local people.  But due to low tide at that time, there was no water in the canal so it was not possible to spread water to the fire. However, the forest department's firefighting equipment and water dispenser were brought in at night and it was prepared and set by pipe.  From early today, the Forest Department workers, Fire Service, local people, CPG started cutting the fire line around the fire and dousing the fire with water.

Around the place of fire, the work of cutting the fire line covering an area of about 5 acres is going on.

However, since the fire is spreading underground through the roots of the trees, the fire has to be extinguished with caution, it added. "Although the fire is under control, fire extinguishing activities will continue for the next few days."

A 3-member committee has already been formed by DFO, East of Khulna Circle of the forest department to investigate the exact cause of the fire.

Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury and the Secretary of the Ministry Dr. Farhina Ahmed have been supervising and coordinating the Sundarbans firefighting operations round the clock.

The Prime Minister is aware of the matter and is keeping a regular check.

Md Amir Hossain Chowdhury, the chief conservator of Forests, rushed to the scene of Sundarbans to supervise the activities on the ground.