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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Students in Chamrajanagar walk 14 KM everyday to schools as village lacks bus connectivity
Mysuru: More than 50 school and college students from Pachedoddi, a remote village near Hanur in Chamarajanagar district, are walking 14 km every day to attend classes due to the absence of bus services and a motorable road. The situation, reported by The New Indian Express, has turned their daily commute into a physically demanding routine.
Students trek 7 km each way to reach educational institutions in Ajjipura, Ramanapura and Hanur. Their route cuts through forested stretches and uneven mud paths that become dangerous during the monsoon. The area falls under the Male Mahadeshwara Wildlife Division, where wild animal movement is common, adding to the students’ risk.
According to the report, the long walk leaves many students exhausted by the time they reach school, affecting their concentration in class. “Our parents brought this issue to the notice of authorities, but in vain. We have now written to the chief minister,” a student told TNIE.
Residents say that ministers, local representatives and officials have visited the village multiple times over the years, promising to address the lack of connectivity. However, the requests for a proper road and regular bus service remain unresolved.
Students have even recorded a video documenting their daily ordeal and posted it on social media in the hope of drawing Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s attention. As per the report, the effort has not yet yielded a response.
Despite the challenges, the students of Pachedoddi continue to make the long journey each day in pursuit of their education.
