Aug 31, 2016
The fire which had broken out had continued for the third day on the eastern section of Knuckles mountain range had destroyed about 500 acres of forest area..The fire had started on the night of the 28th instant but by the afternoon of the 30th instant the fire had been brought under control.,But at certain places the fire seems to show affect randomly..This had been added by people in Ududumbara and Hunnasgiriya areas.
The residents in the vicinity of the Knuckles mountain range had added that growing new grass for cattle,clearing the jungle by fire causing harm to butterflies and insects were factors for the fire.The entering in to the forest is prohibited as the mountain range in under the purview of the wild life department hence the people in the vicinity cannot enter to put off the fire was alleged by the villages. They had accused the authorities as they would be dealt with under the law in case they interfered voluntarily
It is also reported that owing to the pine trees in the forest the tendency for the fire to spread is much more..Hence the dwelling houses in the vicinity are also in an unstable state was added by the villages.They had added that as the related authorities had failed to take action to curtail the fire had been for three days.The fire had been brought under control only on the 30th afternoon with the assistance of the Police officers in the Ududumbara police station.They had been assisted by villagers, three wheeler drivers to put off the fire that had continued for three days.
It is reported that despite giving numerous telephone calls the authorities of the wild life department had kept quiet had resulted in the loss of wild animals, part of the mountain range. and the inconvenience caused to the villages in the vicinity..These facts were revealed by a highest official of the Ududumbara police station.
Although the fire in the Eastern area of the Knuckles mountain range has been fully extinguished the mountain areas of Hunnasgiriya and Rajagalakanda the fire still prevails from last afternoon
