Goharabad forest fire finally extinguished

Officials say they have filed an FIR against suspected arsonists

GILGIT: A mysterious fire, which broke out in the hills of Goharabad valley in Diamer district two-days ago, gutted dozens of trees before it was finally extinguished on Monday.

The fire has also hampered efforts by the local authorities to resolve a dispute over excessive logging in the Sai Juglote area.



“It is over now [fire] but after a considerable loss to the forest,” a local volunteer told The Express Tribune by phone. “No one knows how it started but we are coordinating with the government to determine if there was a hidden hand,” the volunteer said with a hint of suspicion in his voice.

“At least 150 people, including forests department and district administration officials assisted by teachers and students besides conservation committee members, helped overcome the fire,” a local said.

As news of the fire spread, Diamer Forest Conservator Mehmood Ghaznavi along with other forest and district administration officials set out from Goharabad on Sunday. After a four-hour trek, they reached the spot and helped locals overcome the fire. By the time the blaze was put out, the fire had damaged several trees.

The Forest Secretary Sajjad Haider had reached the spot on Monday to supervise the fire extinguishing operation — including digging pits around the affected area to contain the fire from spreading.“The incident is unfortunate but we have registered an FIR against the unidentified arsonists,” said Haider, as he returned Gilgit on Monday evening.

The official confirmed that the fire had damaged around 45 dead and fallen trees apart from some small trees. However, other officials put the damage to around 700 trees.

The secretary added that the government had accorded top priority to overcoming the fire before tracking down and arresting those responsible.



“We will hunt down the culprits with support from the locals,” he assured. The fire occurred at a time when the G-B administration has pooled its resources to transport a large number of trees, which it had seized in the Chakarkote Sai Jaglote area last month.

The seized timber, estimated to be around 0.5 million cubic feet, is currently being shifted to forest depots in the Parri area under supervision of local officials.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 5^th, 2017.