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Forest fire engulfs Tirumala
Forest fire engulfs Tirumala, Forest fire, Forest fire At Tirumala. Police said that no pilgrims were struck in the fire which was noticed on Tuesday.
- The fire becomes uncontrollable, spreading rapidly
- Thousands of hectares of forest gutted in Seshachalam
- Indian Air Force pressed into service, to operate four choppers
- Agama pundits say choppers can fly out of range of temple
- Wind power plants threatened; Smugglers’ hand suspected
Tirupati: A massive fire is rapidly engulfing the hills in the Seshachalam forest range of Tirumala. It has become so devastating that the authorities were forced to stop pilgrims going on foot to the Tirumala temple some time.
Police said that no pilgrims were struck in the fire which was noticed on Tuesday. As it became almost impossible for the TTD and local teams of police and forest personnel to contain the fire, the Chief Secretary (CS) Prasanna Kumar Mohanty spoke to the Cabinet Secretary, the Secretary of Defence, the Secretary of Forest and Environment and apprised them of the grave situation on Tirumala.
As a result, the Indian Air Force (IAF) is directed to arrange four choppers to combat the forest fire. He said that 100 Army personnel were also reaching Seshachalam forest. Director General Forest and Director General Fire Services are also coming to Tirumala from New Delhi, he said. The CS appointed MG Gopal, TTD executive officer, the as nodal officer for the fire-fighting mission.
With the fire intensifying by the hour, the officials of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) said they were trying to get helicopters to help control the blaze. TTD Executive Officer M G Gopal said personnel from fire services, forest, police and various wings of the TTD were involved in the fire-fighting. He said that the fire broke out near the sandalwood plantation, about 3 km from the temple on Tuesday.
Gopal said that as a precautionary measure the TTD restricted the public movement at Papavinasam and nearby forest areas and also evacuated vendors, shop keepers and others in the vicinity.
Gopal said Governor, Chief Secretary and senior officials of the ministry of defence were already in touch with them. They assured all support to TTD in bringing the forest fire under control.
In this connection, he said, the TTD also consulted Agama pundits to elicit their view on engaging the helicopters, keeping in view tradition of allowing no aircraft to fly over Tirumala. The pundits observed that as the fire was in the north direction, away from the temple, the helicopters could be operated, without venturing into the air space over the location of the shrine.
Gopal said that the pedestrian path from Tirupati to Tirumala was closed for pilgrims for a few hours on Wednesday. However, as there is no danger of the fire reaching the foot path area, it was reopened later.
The TTD forest and the vigilance personnel were keeping a close watch all along the 10-km foot path as well as the ghat roads.
A control room was set up at EO camp office at Tirumala and five special teams of officers were also set up.
A wind power plant located in the forest is surrounded by the massive flames.
The fire, which was first noticed at Pullatla at noon, spread in no time towards Eethakayala mandapam and Kakulakonda area and later to the eastern parts of the forest. Sandalwood trees, endemic to Tirumala forest ranges, were largely destroyed in the inferno. The forest officials who rushed to the spot could not do much due to staff shortage and inadequate equipment. The fire being the handiwork of red sanders smugglers is not ruled out. Sources said the smugglers might have resorted to this with an intention to divert the attention of the forest officials.
TTD Chief Vigilance and Security Officer (CVSO) G Srinivas rushed to the spot along with his team to assist the fire fighting staff.
Meanwhile, the forest staff along with about 300 TTD personnel fought a grim battle against the raging fire which remained unabated till Wednesday evening.
Sources said that the fire broke out in Pulletla area of Seshachalam forest, five days back. It was noticed only on Monday, after it spread slowly but steadily towards Papavinasam forest area from where it started intensifying.
The fire spread further to Kakulathippe where two transformers of the power generation unit were damaged one partially.
Forest officials do not rule out the sparks from the bonfire made by the people who to Tumburatheertham on the full moon day causing the fire. The wild grass (Boda kasuvu) which is more in the area helped the fire spread fast.
