Khanpur wildfire ravages vast hillside forest

A sudden wildfire, erupted in the Sarral (Sarrala) mountain range on the outskirts of Khanpur on Sunday, rapidly spread across several kilometres of forested land, placing valuable trees, native vegetation, and wildlife under severe threat. Rescuers succeeded in bringing a substantial portion of the blaze under control.

Upon receiving reports of the blaze, the district administration, emergency response services, and the Forest Department immediately launched coordinated firefighting operations.

Official sources said, at approximately 2am, Assistant Commissioner Khanpur Junaid Khalid arrived at the scene. Accompanied by personnel from Rescue 1122, the Sub-Divisional Forest Officer (SDFO), and other relevant officials, he inspected the affected forest area near Rani Wah. During the visit, he personally supervised the emergency response and actively participated in efforts to contain the fire.

Rescue teams, Forest Department officials, and local volunteers worked tirelessly for several hours and succeeded in bringing a substantial portion of the blaze under control. However, flames and smoke remain visible in certain remote and elevated sections of the mountainous terrain, where operations continue to fully extinguish the fire.

AC Khalid, talking to the media, emphasised that forests are a national asset and their protection is a shared responsibility. He appealed to tourists, local residents, and visitors to mountainous areas to refrain from lighting fires, discarding cigarette butts, or engaging in any activity that could potentially trigger a forest fire.

He noted that wildfires not only destroy valuable trees and natural habitats but also pose serious threats to wildlife, birds, and other rare species.

The AC further urged members of the public to immediately report any suspicious individuals or attempts to deliberately start fires to the police, the Forest Department, or the Assistant Commissioner's Office, enabling the authorities to take stringent legal action against those responsible.

In a clear and unequivocal message, the district administration stated that any individuals found responsible for deliberately setting forest fires or whose negligence contributes to such incidents will be named in First Information Reports (FIRs) and prosecuted in accordance with the law. Strict legal action will be taken against those involved, with no leniency shown.

Citizens described the efforts to reach difficult mountainous locations during the night and combat the blaze as highly commendable by the government agencies, reflecting the dedication of public institutions to serving the community.

Members of the public also called upon the government to strengthen wildfire preparedness by providing modern firefighting equipment, water tankers, specialised forest fire brigade units, drone-based surveillance systems, early fire-detection sensors, and other advanced resources to facilitate swift and effective emergency responses.

They further urged the government to adopt modern resources and comprehensive conservation strategies to protect the country's valuable forests and wildlife, ensuring the prevention of similar incidents and the preservation of natural resources for future generations.

Meanwhile, environmental experts have warned that Pakistan is already grappling with the challenges of climate change and declining forest cover. In such circumstances, incidents of forest fires pose significant risks to natural ecosystems, water resources, wildlife, and local biodiversity.

They stressed that safeguarding forests requires not only emergency interventions but also sustained public awareness campaigns, effective monitoring mechanisms, and the adoption of modern technologies.

The administration has announced that continuous monitoring of the affected area will remain in place. Officials have clarified that Rescue 1122 and Forest Department teams will stay on-site until the fire is completely extinguished.

Simultaneously, investigations are underway to determine the cause of the incident and identify any individuals who may be held accountable.