Major fire breaks out in Bandipur national park: More than 15K acre forest land gutted
Chamarajnagar, Feb 23: A major fire has broken out in the Bandipur National Tiger Reserve park on Thursday, causing thousands of acres of forest area have been destroyed.
The fire broke out in some parts around a week ago and now, it has spread to Bandipur national park propelled by strong wind. Forest department officials who lodged a complaint at police station urged them to arrest the miscreants who set fire in the forest.
The Bandipur national park has become one among the best tourist destinations in the world. The fire first broke out at Kundakere near Bandipur three days ago and some portion of the forest was destroyed. But on Friday, the fire spread to Kundakere, Lokkere, Chikkelachatti, Kalli Gowdanahalli, Shivapura, Gopalaswamy Betta and other places in spite of the efforts of the firefighters and locals to douse the fire. As a result, it is said that more than 15,000 acres of forest was destroyed.
With the help of strong wind, the fire covered the entire Bandipur on Saturday. As it is summer, most of the parts of the forest has become dry and the fire has devastated everything on its way though the firefighters, staff and locals tried their level best to control it.
Two years ago, the region got fire and thousands of acres of forest area in Kalkere forest range in Bandipur was destroyed. Moreover, forest guard Murugappa Thammanagol was burnt alive in the fire. Many forest department staff who had been to douse the fire were injured and hundreds of wild animals and birds were also died.
Vehicular movement disturbed
As the Bandipur forest suffered major fire, the vehicular movement on Ooty-Mysuru road was disturbed. Due to thick smoke emanated from the fire, tourists are returning back.
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Rahul Gandhi to attend friendly football match between Messi, Revanth Reddy in Hyderabad
Hyderabad (PTI): Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, will attend the GOAT India Tour event featuring football legend Lionel Messi at the RGI Cricket Stadium here on Saturday evening, Telangana Congress sources said.
A friendly match will be played between the two teams -- Singareni RR9 and Aparna-Messi All Stars. These two teams will be playing a 15-20 minute friendly match and five minutes before the game, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, a football enthusiast and Messi will join and will dribble the ball together.
Rahul Gandhi will land here on a special flight at 4.30 PM and will proceed to Taj Falaknuma Palace Hotel where Messi will be staying.
After watching the game, Gandhi will leave for the national capital by 10.30 PM.
Elaborate security arrangements are being made for the event at the RGI Cricket stadium.
Rachakonda Police Commissioner Sudheer Babu said security would be provided with 3,000 personnel.
