Bhubaneswar, April 22: With at least 3000 sensitive wildfire points across the Odisha forests, the Odisha government on Monday has mobilized the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) teams to contain sensitive wildfire in at least seven vulnerable locations.
Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF) Devidutta Biswal informed on Monday that the government decided to deploy ODRAF teams at Baliguda, Phulbani, Banei, Parlakhemundi, Kalahandi and Similipal to help the frontline staff to tackle the forest fire.
Following the approval of the office of the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC), as many as seven ODRAF teams were deputed to report before the DFOs of the respective forest divisions for forest fire response duty. The teams with essential equipment, left for the spots who will report the concerned Divisional Forest Officers (DFO) soon.
Biswal said, “Last year, at least 32,500 fire points were spotted in the Similipal Sanctuary by April. This year the forest fire has been so far detected in over 13 points in this month.”
With the soaring heatwave , adequate numbers of forest personnel and fire services personnel were pressed into services to douse the forest flames. However, the teams were found quite insufficient to bring the blaze under control.
