SRINAGAR, Sept 11: The Forest Department on Friday observed Forest Martyrs Day at Shankaracharya Hills in Srinagar, paying tribute to forest personnel who lost their lives while performing their duties.
The programme was led by Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of Forest Force (PCCF & HoFF) Sarvesh Rai and attended by senior forest officials, including the Chief Conservator of Forests, Kashmir, Conservator of Forests Srinagar Circle, Divisional Forest Officers and other field staff.
Officials paid floral tributes at the Forest Martyrs Memorial in honour of personnel who died in the line of duty.
Addressing the gathering, Rai highlighted the challenges faced by forest personnel, including encounters with wild animals and action against timber smuggling and other forest-related offences. He paid tribute to those who made what he described as the supreme sacrifice while protecting forest resources and ecological assets in Jammu and Kashmir.
As part of the observance, the department also organised a plantation drive under the theme “Ek Ped Shaheedon Ke Naam” and planted conifer saplings at Balwan in Srinagar in memory of the fallen personnel.
A similar event was held at the Kashmir Forest Training School in Chitternar, Bandipora, where trainees and staff paid homage to forest personnel who lost their lives while on duty.
