Karnataka: Major Fire Breaks Out at Bandipur Tiger Reserve

A major fire has broken out in the forest areas of the Bandipur tiger reserve, hundreds of acres of thick forest being destroyed. The fire that started at GS Betta range on Friday evening has spread across Kundakere, Bandipur and Gopalaswamy Betta ranges of the tiger reserve aided by strong winds which helped propel it. The fire has spread to the tiger reserve's border with Kerala's Wayanad wildlife sanctuary. The tourism area of the reserve has been gutted. The Bandipur tiger reserve covers an area of 87,400 hectares and along with the Wayanad wildlife sanctuary and the Nagarahole National Park form one of India's ecologically diverse regions. It is home to vulnerable species like Elephants, Gaurs, Tigers and Indian rock pythons. Tourists who visited Bandipur were stopped at a check-post at the entrance to the reserve due to the spread of the fire. Hundreds of people, including forest personnel, fire fighters, volunteers of various organisations and local people are involved in fire fighting operation.