Forest fire at Mangshila

MANGAN, 27 Jan: A forest fire was reported at Mangshila in North Sikkim yesterday at around 2 PM. Under Secretary, Land Revenue & Disaster Management Department, KT Bhutia, first reported the fire which had reached near his house.
The forest fire had reportedly started below the North Sikkim Highway, then crossed the road spreading towards inhabited area by the time the Fire brigade at Mangan was informed. After receiving the information, when the fire-fighting team reached the spot, a team from the Forest department comprising of BO and 4 Forest Guards was already in action assisted by villagers and local QRT [Quick Response Team] of Disaster Management, LR and DM, Mangan.
The fire was brought under control by around 6 PM in the evening although fire personnel continued to keep watch late into the night occasionally spraying water over some burning bushes to stop the fire from spreading.
SDM Mangan, PW Lepcha also reached the spot and urged the people to stay alert as the weather is very dry nowadays and therefore there is high risk of forest fires. He further appealed to the people not to throw cigarette butts carelessly near forest areas.