Public joins hands with Army and Fire Brigade in controlling forest fire in West Pendam

SINGTAM, 25 Apr: The public of different villages under West Pendam GPU in East Sikkim were busy the whole day on Thursday trying to beat down a forest fire nearby. Forest fires in the jungles of Sawney, Upper Bardang, Tachiney, Lower Bardang, Lower Singlebong and Salingey under West Pendam GPU created panic among the local people.
The forest fire, it is suspected, started from Sawney forest, spreading to Upper Bardang, Tachiney, Lower Bardang, Lower Singlebong and reached upto the forest at Salingey.
The joint operation undertaken by the Army in Bardang and the locals saved the house of one Suk Bahadur Sunar but the bamboo grove of a farmer from Singlebong Suk Bahadur Basnet was completely razed to the ground. Fortunately another house of Shankar Chettri of Singlebong was also saved from the fire.
It is informed that the fire started at around 10 AM on Thursday morning and Forest guards, Nursery Mali of Bhaghey Khola, Army stationed at Bardang, Fire Brigade Singtam and local people had to struggle for almost the entire day to bring the fire under control. The Forest Department has estimated that around 15 hectares area was affected in this forest fire from Sawney to Salingey.
Bhakta Bahadur Chettri and Lok Bahadur Chettri of Singlebong did a tremendous job along with the Mali of Bagheykhola Nursery and other local people. However, Bhakta Bahadur Chettri and his 13-year-old son Milan Chettri did a commendable job working till 1 AM today. The department has also appreciated the work of class V student, Milan Chettri.
Singtam RO Manzil Kharel and Rangpo BO, Om Gurung have urged local people, social organizations and everyone to stay alert and to support the department to avoid such incidents. [from NANDU DUTRAJ]