Fire broke out in the area of the Sundarbans' Eastern Forest Division today.Photo : BSS

KHULNA, March 22, 2025 (BSS) - A fire broke out in the Kolomteji Forest Patrol Outpost area of the Sundarbans' Eastern Forest Division today.

Villagers of the adjacent areas first noticed a smoke rising from the Taparbil area of the forest. The forest department later confirmed the fire in the afternoon and began efforts to extinguish it.

Forest officials rushed to the scene upon receiving the news. However, due to the long distance from the nearest canal, there was lack of water sources; firefighters faced challenges to douse the flame. To prevent the flames from spreading across a larger area, forest guards started cutting fire lines around the affected zone.

On information, four units of the Fire Service headed toward the scene and doused the flame.

Abtad-e-Alam, Station Officer of the Fire Service and Civil Defense in Sharankhola Station, said that fire stations from Sharankhola and Morrelganj have already reached the scene. Besides, two additional units from Rampal and Kachua are on their way.

Bipuleshwar Das, Forester of the Chandpai Range of Dhansagar Station under the Sundarbans Eastern Forest Division, told BSS that there were no immediate water sources nearby. The fire was blazing deep inside the forest, about two to two and a half kilometers away from the nearest canal. They were waiting for the tide to rise in the canal so that water pumps can be transported via trawlers and other boats.

Kazi Muhammad Nurul Karim, the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of the Sundarbans Eastern Forest Division, confirmed the fire incident, saying, "We have been informed about the fire in the Sundarbans. I along with forest men headed to the site, and will provide the assessment about the extent and condition of the fire."