A forest fire broke out on Friday, 19 March in the forests of Kevda, off the Udaipur Banswara highway. The fire was so terrible that in a short time it engulfed a 5km stretch of the forest area. The efforts of the villagers in trying to control the fire proved insufficient. A team from the Forest Department and district administration reached the spot and tried to control the fire.

Much of the forest area turned to ashes due to this fire – affecting both the vegetation and wild beasts in the region. The lining border method was adopted by the forest department officials in extinguishing the fire. This attempt to control the fire is done by digging a pit about two and a half feet between the mountains and forest. Presence of Panthers in the region during the night hours also disturbed the efforts of the forest department.

5 villages, viz. Babar Maal, Kevda Khurd, Kurabad, Sarada and Oda are in the periphery of the Kevde Ki Naal forest, comprising of a population of around 8,000.  Villagers including a team from the forest department have been successful in controlling the fire using indigenous methods.

Source: Media Reports and Forest Department