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Tirumala Forest Engulfed by Uncontrollable Fire |
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Location Map of Fire in Tirumala forest
In a fire accident in the Seshachalam forests in Tirumala, 400 hectares of forest ranges have turned to ashes. The fire had broken out at Pullutlu in Tirumala on Tuesday afternoon. The site lies close to the well known Tirupati temple in Andhra Pradesh.
Reportedly, the mishap has caused a loss of about Rs. 80 crore. However, there has not been any casualty in the accident.
The loss could have been manifold if the wind had favoured the blaze. The change in the direction of the wind saved the Kakulamanukonda wind mill project. The project has been set up on the peripheries of the town.
The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD), which manages the Tirumala temple, has initiated rescue measures. Over 1,000 personnel from the Vigilance and Security, Fire Services, Forest Department, Water Works and Engineering were sent to the site to control the fire in the forest area. Despite strenuous effort, the authorities failed to extinguish the uncontrollable fire, which engulfed many more nearby areas by Wednesday evening.
Certain road routes have been blocked by the authorities. Also, the concerned department has requested for aerial help from the state government. In case of an urgent requirement at the site, military helicopters from Chennai and Hyderabad will be made available at the location to control the blaze.
