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Fire in Sundarbans' Shaplar Beel Extinguished After 4 Days
A devastating fire that broke out in the Shaplar Beel area of the Sundarbans on Sunday morning was fully extinguished by Thursday afternoon, after four days of intense firefighting efforts.
A total of 168 fire service personnel from 10 units successfully controlled the blaze by 12 p.m., according to Sakaria Haider, Deputy Assistant Director (DAD) of the Bagerhat Fire Service and Civil Defence. "The lack of a nearby water source made the firefighting process especially challenging," he explained.
Dipen Chandra Das, Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) for the Chandpai Range in the Sundarbans East Division, stated that the affected area would be monitored closely for the next seven days. "We are taking necessary precautions to prevent any further flare-ups," he added. Forest Department teams will conduct round-the-clock surveillance, and drones will be deployed for aerial monitoring of the region.
The fire, which destroyed approximately 4.5 acres of forest land, was first spotted on Saturday morning in the Tepar Beel area near the Kolmatji Camp of the Dhansagar Station in the Chandpai Range. Firefighters had brought the blaze under control by Sunday morning, more than 24 hours after it initially ignited.
Investigations Underway
In the wake of the fires, separate investigation committees have been formed to determine the causes of the recent blazes in both the Tapar Beel and Shaplar Beel areas, and to assess the resulting biodiversity damage. Committee members have already visited various sections of the forest to gather evidence. Notably, signs indicating the involvement of local Mauwals (beekeepers) were discovered at the fire sites.
Once the investigations are complete, the committees will submit their findings to the Divisional Forest Officer. Additionally, ACF Das confirmed that the Forest Department plans to file two separate general diaries at the Morelganj and Tepar Beel police stations as part of the ongoing inquiry.
Efforts to Address Water Shortage
As part of ongoing efforts to tackle the challenges faced during firefighting, the Forest Department is also focusing on addressing the shortage of water sources in the Sundarbans, which has significantly hindered the efficiency of firefighting operations.