A new fire broke out in another part of the Sundarbans on Sunday just a few hours after fire fighters brought another fire under control in a different part of the forest.
The Forest Department noticed a blaze in the dense forest area of Shaplar Bil, near the 23 Sher Siler of Dhansagar Patrol Post in the Chandpai Range of the Sundarbans East Division in Bagerhat district.
Dipen Chandra Das, Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) for the Chandpai Range in the Sundarbans East Division, said that after receiving news of the fire in the Shaplar Bil area, they first monitored it using a drone.
The fire was observed deep in the forest, prompting immediate action.
The team began cutting a fire lane, but despite their efforts, the fire spread beyond the lane at several points. As of 6:30 pm on Sunday, the fire lane was still being cleared. Once the lane is fully cut, they plan to extinguish the fire by bringing water from the Bhola River through a pipeline.
Sundarbans fire under control; probe committee formed
Das mentioned that the fire in Shaplar Bil is far more dangerous than the one in Tapar Bil, though the cause remains unclear.
Sakria Haider, DAD at Bagerhat Fire Station, said that firefighters from various stations, including Khulna, Bagerhat, Morrelganj, Mollahat, and Sharankhola, are on their way to help fight the fire.
However, they had not reached the site by 6:30 pm.
Eyewitnesses said that the fire is spreading across different areas of Shaplar Bil, with flames visible from a distance.
The fire's intensity is increasing due to dry foliage and trees, and the lack of nearby water sources is hindering efforts to extinguish the flames.