Over the last few days, nearly 127 major fires have reduced vast swathes of forestland to ashes at Bandipur in Karnataka.
Bandipur, a dry deciduous forest, has a history of forest fires which is usually confined to a specific range. But this year, a fire was first spotted at Kundugere and then at Melkahamanahalli, from where it spread to Gopalaswamy Betta.
The long-term impact of the fire on the forest is a huge concern.