Alert forest guards managed to avert major fire incident at Patour beat under Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve in Umaria district, on Thursday afternoon. The fire spread at around one hectare area but there was no major damage to the forest and wildlife was reported in initial investigation.

Field Director of Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, Rajiv Mishra, while talking to ‘The Hitavada’, confirmed that the fire broke out at Patour beat in the national park. They received information of wildfire at around 11 am and a team of forest guards under the supervision of senior officers reached the spot and managed to douse the forest fire within some hours. In prima facie of the investigation, there was no major damage to the forest and wildlife was reported. Field Director, Rajiv Mishra added that wildfire during summers is a common scenario and the Forest Department is well equipped and managed to avert wildfire menace but taking several precautionary measures. An inquiry has been set-up to find the exact reason of the fire.