Srinagar: Asserting that a number of hills and mountains in the union territory are susceptible to forest fires, the Divisional Commissioner (Div Com) Kashmir Vijay Kumar Bidhuri on Friday warned hikers not to create any circumstances in forests that might lead to fire.
Koh-e- Sulaiman also known as Shankaracharya hillock, in Srinagar, and some hills in Doda that are similar, and a few other places, according to Div Com, are vulnerable to forest fires, if human intervention is not immediately halted.
The Div Com Kashmir also urged people to exercise maximum caution in the winters to prevent incidences of fire and asphyxiation which have led to the loss of lives and property.
“I urge hikers who go mountaineering to avoid creating conditions that result in forest fires. Doda and other locations are susceptible to forest fires, as are a number of hills that resemble Shankar Acharya hillock. Furthermore, human action causes these accidents to happen; if we practice prudence, they won’t,” Div Com told reporters here, adding, mountains and snow-capped slopes are safe.
Bidhuri also expressed sorrow over the loss of lives in Srinagar and few other parts of the valley from asphyxiation, saying if people exercise caution, such incidents will not occur.
“We are responsible for maintaining our woods; if we don’t create conditions that lead to forest fires, we will be able to prevent them. In light of the tragic loss of precious lives due to asphyxiation, I strongly advise everyone to be cautious during the winter months to prevent similar incidents,” Div Com added.
