SWAT: The occurrence of continuous wildfire has risen to alarming levels in Swat District while the fire in Chakesar Tehsil of Shangla District has been extinguished.
According to District Forest Officer Waseem Khan, the wildfire has been extinguished in Abuha of Barikot Tehsil, Pathanay area of Babuzai Tehsil, Segram and Sarsaini areas of Kabal Tehsil, Kot of Charbagh Tehsil and Muraday hills in Matta Tehsil.
He, however, said that efforts are being made to control the fire in the Karakar area of Barikot Tehsil, Chamtalai, Bihar and Braham Patai areas of Khwaza Khela Tehsil and Deoli of Kabal Tehsil.
DFO Wasim Khan said that the fire in Sarsenai has affected trees planted over 100 hectares under Tsunami bullion tree plants while 15 hectares of forest has been destroyed.
Swat Deputy Commissioner Junaid Khan said that in view of the increasing incidence of fire, he has constituted a four-member high level inquiry committee. The heads of intelligence agencies have been included in the committee and they have been directed to carry out an inquiry and submit a report as soon as possible.
“The fire broke itself or by someone else, an inquiry will be held in this regard and involved persons will be dealt with sternly,” he claimed.
He said that besides the Pakistan Army, Police and Swat Levies personnel, TMAs personnel and firefighters of Rescue 1122, Forest Department and Wildlife Department personnel are constantly engaged in the operation.
“Help from community is also sought through announcements from mosques in various parts of the District. Locals and LG representatives are also taking part in the relief efforts,” the DC informed.
Volunteers from the Civil Defense and Al-Khidmat Foundation are also involved in the firefighting process.
Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner Shangla District Ziaur Rehman said that the fire on Ali Jan’s peak in Chakisar Tehsil has been controlled. On the other, four victims of the fire have been buried.
Relief and food items have been delivered to the affected family and compensation will be announced by the provincial government soon, he said.
THREE DIE IN ACCIDENT
Meanwhile, three persons died and seven others injured in a road accident at Sherpalam area of Matta Tehsil in Swat district.
Matta Police SHO Fazal Rahim said that a passenger van was going to Matta from Mingora city when it collided with a Truck coming from the opposite direction.
As result, three persons identified as Sahid Ullah, resident of Chakesar Shangla, Naimat Ali, a resident of Sherpalam and Asad Ullah, a resident of Sakhra Matta lost their lives and seven others sustained injuries.
The police personnel and Rescue 1122 rescuers rushed to the spot and took the deceased and the injured to Tehsil Headquarters Hospital in Matta.
