Wildfire at Margalla Hills put out

Strong winds hamper firefighting operation; ministry says heatwave key culprit

ISLAMABAD:

Around 150 personnel from the Capital Development Authority and the Ministry of Climate Change put out a fire that broke out at Margalla Hills.

A ministry spokesperson said the efforts continued late into the night as the fire spread up to three kilometres spanning the areas of Loi Dandi, Ratahoter and Pir Sohawa at the Margalla hills.

The spokesperson in a statement said heatwave and increased wind speed contributed to the intensity of the fire. Swift action was taken to avoid any casualty and the trained personnel engaged in firefighting activity till late night, the statement added.

Meanwhile, the CDA said the wildfire erupted in the scenic Margalla Hills National Park in the late evening hours of Friday due to heatwave impact and strong winds that raged the fire in the three kilometres stretch of the Loi Dundee area of the federal capital. In a statement issued here, PM's Coordinator on Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, Romina Khurshid Alam said all-out efforts were made by the Ministry of Climate Change and Capital Development Authority personnel to contain the raging fire. Romina said the ongoing heat wave and increased wind speed mounted the intensity of the fire. "The fire spread over an area of 3 km near Loi Dundee, Rathahoter and Pir Sohawa as due to gusty wind, the fire spreads fast." She added that around 150 personnel were trying to control the fire, whereas precautionary measures were being taken to avoid any casualties. APP

Published in The Express Tribune, May 19^th, 2024.