PAMPORE: Fire erupted in standing dry plants of cattail (typha) in Fashkoori wetland at Pampore area of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Saturday evening.
The Fashkoori Wetland is home to many species of migratory birds from different Eurasian countries which visit here every year during winters.
An official of fire and emergency services department Pampore, which is located at a height near the wetland, told Kashmir Reader that as soon as flames were seen rising from the wetland they rushed to the spot fire fighting tenders.
He said soon personnel from Police station Pampore also arrived and they jointly put off the fire.
“Our office is located at a height in Pampore, our sentry noticed flames and smoke in the wetland, a fire alarm was rung and with man and machinery we reached the spot,” Incharge Fire and Emergency department Pampore Abdul Hai told Kashmir Reader, adding that a big chunk was in flames.
He said that the fire was doused after some time.
He said that dry grass in the wetland caught fire from sparks of a fire which was lighted by some boys in the vicinity.
He added that SDPO Pampore Mir Imtiyaz Ahmad and SHO Pampore Mohammad Yousuf also reached the spot and they appreciated personnel of fire and emergency department.
Meanwhile, Environmental lawyer, Nadeem Qadri hailed fire and emergency, police department for dousing the flames.
“We at Wildlife Conservation Fund, J&K are thankful to Fire and Emergency Department, Pampore for supporting the Fire Fighting Operations at Fashkoori Wetland Reserve, as per the reports massive fire broke at Wetland Peats which resulted in huge disturbance to the Migratory Birds which arrive from Central Asia. We are also thanks to Fire and Emergency Service Pampore Incharge Abdul Hai, SDPO Pampore Mir Imtiyaz Ahmad and SHO Pampore Mohammad Younis Khan for their immediate action to control the spread the fire,” he told Kashmir Reader.

BILAL HABIB