Fire engulfs part of Margalla Hills

CDA officials say they had managed to put out 75% of the fire, but high winds, hilly terrain were posing difficulties

ISLAMABAD: A bush fire broke out on the Margalla Hills on Saturday evening, and quickly enveloped a large area.

According to Capital Development Authority (CDA) spokesperson Ramzan Sajid, the fire started in the evening at around 7:45pm and quickly spread over the next hour and a half.

“The fire erupted in the Loi Dandi area, close to the Bari Imam Shrine, but reason behind the fire is yet to be ascertained,"

The spokesperson added that they were combating the blaze from two sides, however, fast winds were making the task difficult. The affected area lay within hilly terrain without proper roads, preventing access for the fire brigade. Left without water, officials resorted to beating the fire to extinguish it.

Fires on the Margalla, while common during the summer months, are rare at the tail end of winter.

"In most cases, it (fire) takes place after visitors throw flaming cigarette stubs without realising the consequences of their negligence."

A CDA added that they had managed to put the fire out once, but it re-erupted two hours later owing to high winds.

Till filing of this story, CDA officials had claimed to put over 75 per cent of the blaze.