Wildfires continue to rage in Kappatagudda hill

Wildfires continued to ravage the Kappatagudda hill range, home for unique flora and fauna, in the district.

In third such incident since January 25 and second in 24 hours, vegetation spread across 50 hectares was destroyed in the hill, considered a treasure trove of unique flora and fauna, near Doni village under Dambal hobli of Gadag district on Sunday.

The wildfire was spotted at 1 pm. Over 80 forest personnel, joined by locals, battled for seven to eight hours to douse the flames

Range Forest Officer Pradeep Pawar told DH, “Vegetation spread across 50 hectares was gutted in the fire. The fire has been doused completely. On Saturday, shrubs and dry grass on 15 hectares were reduced to ashes in what is said to be a man-made fire near Keluru.

On January 25, eight acres of vegetation in the hill was destroyed in a wildfire near Doni. The Kappatagudda hill, which was declared as conservation reserve five years back, is facing a serious threat from the man-made and accidental fires and illegal mining.