RAJOURI, June 09, 2026 : A massive forest fire sweeping through several locations in the Rajouri Forest Division has triggered an extensive firefighting operation involving the Forest Department, Forest Protection Force (FPF), and local residents, as authorities race against time to contain the blaze and prevent further devastation.
According to officials, the fire has affected forest compartments in Khadian, Androla, Chakkli, Miahadi, and the Bathuni Block, posing a serious threat to valuable forest resources and wildlife habitats. Firefighting efforts continued throughout Tuesday, with the entire available workforce deployed across the affected areas.
Forest Department official Rajesh Kumar said teams have been mobilized despite the severe challenges posed by the rugged terrain and the remoteness of the fire-hit regions.
“The entire staff has been deployed. The fire is in the Chakkli, Khadian, and Androla areas. These locations are extremely remote, making it impossible for fire vehicles to reach the affected spots. We are hopeful that the fire will be brought under control by evening,” Kumar said.
Officials noted that difficult topography and limited accessibility have significantly hampered firefighting efforts, forcing personnel to rely largely on manual methods and coordinated ground operations to contain the advancing flames.
Local residents have also joined hands with forest officials, playing a crucial role in battling the fire and preventing it from spreading toward nearby settlements and additional forest compartments.
One resident engaged in the firefighting efforts said villagers had been working relentlessly since the previous day.
“We continued firefighting operations until late night yesterday and returned home around midnight. We are working shoulder to shoulder with the department, but the fire is massive and extremely difficult to control,” he said.
While authorities have yet to assess the total area affected or the extent of ecological damage caused to forest cover and wildlife, officials confirmed that no casualties or injuries have been reported so far.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Forest officials are closely monitoring the evolving situation and have intensified containment measures to prevent the blaze from spreading further across the Rajouri forest belt.
As operations continue, local authorities remain on high alert, with additional manpower deployed to safeguard vulnerable forest areas and protect nearby communities from potential risks.
