No respite from forest fires for Sikkim

Gangtok, Mar 16 : There seems no respite from bush fires in Sikkim since the past five days with forest fires at six more areas of the State reported today.
The biggest of them all has been reported at Tareybhir under Fambong Lho Wildlife Sanctuary in East Sikkim.
Bush fires had been reported from this sanctuary at Tareybhir yesterday night.
According to forest officials, fires have erupted from various patches of this 51.76 sq. km sanctuary. The fire at the moment is limited to destroying ground grass and low lying trees. There has been no loss of wildlife so far.
Over fifty staff from forest department and members of EDCs and JFMCs along with local people and staff from fire services are battling to control this raging forest fire, it is informed.
Forest personnel have controlled the fire that took place at Assam Lingzey reserve forest and Ranka today.
However, they are still struggling to control the forest fires at Rangpo Sittey reserve forest and Pabing in South Sikkim.
Since last Friday, Sikkim has been reeling under a rash of forest fires thanks to continuous dry spell and human negligence and mischief.
Till today, the total of forest fires in Sikkim has reached almost 40 damaging hundreds of hectares of ground cover and low lying plants and trees.
Apart from reserve forests and private holdings, bush fires had also taken place at the famous Barsey Rhododendron Sanctuary where affecting around 200 hectares.