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Fire sweeps through high ranges of Kottayam
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- After a series of low-intense landslips that rocked the region during the monsoon, the vast swaths of forests, grasslands, and plantations in the high ranges of Kottayam have now been taken over by numerous wind-driven fires, giving locals and firefighting officials sleepless nights.
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- According to officials with the Fire and Rescue Services, the fast-moving flames, accompanied by extreme heat and spells of dry wind, have turned the forest fringes on the foothills of the Western Ghats incandescent.
- The sharp rise in fire incidents over the last couple of weeks has left the 250-plus Fire and Rescue Services personnel and the 16 fire tenders across the eight fire stations in Kottayam stretched to their limit.
- 300 acres destroyed: A fire that broke out at Moonnilavu two days ago has so far destroyed crops on over 300 acres.
- The fires have left the forests and plantations reduced to charred stumps in many locations.
- Tough to Handle: The incidents reported from the desolate grasslands on the hilltops are tough to handle, considering the difficulty in deploying personnel and machines at such locations.
- About Kottayam:
(1) Kottayam is a city in Kerala, located on the basin of Meenachil River and has a moderate climate.
(2) The city is known for its trade in natural rubber, and the national Rubber Board is headquartered in the city, as is the Plantation Corporation of Kerala.
(3) Kottayam Port is India's first multi-modal inland container depot.
Sources
The Hindu