Bhubaneswar, Mar 12: Concerned over the wildfire devouring large tracts of forests in the Similipal biosphere under Mayurbhanj district of Odisha ,  a three-member Central team arrived in the biosphere today.

Union Ministry of Forest and Environment has directed a team consisting of Inspector General of Forests (IGF) Amit Mallick of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), Deputy Director General of Forests (Central), Odisha region Subrat Mohapatra and Head of   Silviculture of Indian Council of Forestry Research & Education (ICFRE) Arati Choudhary to visit the Similipal sanctuary.

As of now, the team reached the core area of the biosphere to study the status of the wildfire. Subsequently the team will study the loss of flora and fauna in the sanctuary and put forth its suggestions to the Similipal Tiger Reserve Authority.

 At the same time it will assist the Odisha government in containing the unprecedented devastation in the National Park, official sources said.