Bageshwar: A forest fire in Ghiroli on Wednesday night has raised concerns over environmental damage and public safety, with residents reporting increased movement of wildlife into nearby villages.Forest fires were reported earlier from the Garur region, where large stretches of forest were affected. Residents said recurring fires have damaged the ecosystem and forced wild animals into human settlements.“Forest fires have become frequent, and the impact is clearly visible. Leopards are now entering the village regularly. In the past few days, two to three have been spotted in residential areas,” said local resident Bablu Joshi.Ashok Lohani, a resident of Jaulkande village, said animals were moving towards villages in search of safety. On Thursday afternoon, a leopard was found hiding behind a drum on the roof of a bathroom in Leti village.Forest officials, however, said the situation remained under control. Sub-divisional officer M S Gusain said around 50 fire incidents have been recorded so far this season, adding that reserve forests have largely remained unaffected.
Locals disputed the claim. “In our area, even reserve forests have suffered significant damage,” said Garur resident Jagdish Chandra.District magistrate Akanksha Konde said multiple agencies have been mobilised. “Apart from the forest department, tehsil-level teams and Quick Response Teams (QRTs) have been deployed. Regular monitoring is being carried out in coordination with disaster management and forest officials,” she said.
