Forest fire in Bandipur buffer zone doused

A minor fire swept through parts of Bandipur buffer zone on Saturday evening but was brought under control and doused by the Forest Department personnel.

The authorities said about 5 to 8 acres of the forest area was affected but said it was only a ground fire and had no significant impact on either the vegetation or the animals in the area. The fire was first noticed around 3.30 p.m. in the Terkanambi forest area of the buffer zone in Gundlupet. It transpired that the fire was approaching the forest area from a private agricultural tract which was on fire and hence the Forest Department rushed its personnel to the spot to bring it under control before it engulfed the core forests.