Massive fire breaks out in tiger enclosure at MHTR

KOTA: A major disaster was averted at the Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve (MHTR) after a massive fire broke out inside the tiger enclosure.

The enclosure houses two big cats, MT-1 and MT-2 which were recently relocated to the MHTR from Ranthambore National Park (RNP). According to a forest official, the fire was contained to an extent and was prevented from spreading to nearby areas.

The fire had spread to over 200 hectares inside the 82-square-kilometre enclosure near Sawan Bhado Dam in Dara area under Kanwas police station. Foresters, along with hundreds of villagers and fire-fighting staff, made attempts to douse the fire, that had spread to dangerous proportions. The villagers ferried several gallons of water from a nearby reservoir to douse the raging flames. Chief conservator of forests (CCF), wild life, Kota, Anand Mohan said, “The fire broke out in two patches inside the eastern side of the tiger enclosure. The fire is under total control. Success in dousing the fire was achieved with the help of villagers, municipal corporation and forest staff.” He added, “A specially abled woman with match sticks in her hand was detained. She entered into the forest and reached close to tiger enclosure. It appears that she is not a local as her dialect is different.”

At least six fire tenders were engaged to control the fire. However, 40 percent area of the grassland was destroyed as per initial reports. No casualty was reported in the incident. DCF, MHTR, T. Mohan said, “The three tigers and other animals in the area are safe and not in danger zone.”

In a similar incident, a fire broke out in a wheat field in Baran district. The fire was controlled before it could engulf the wheat crop standing in nearby fields, SHO at Nahargarh police station Dalpat Singh said. The fire has been controlled and no loss of life or heavy damage has been reported so far, he added.