Bhuban Hills Forest Fire Under Control, No Casualties Reported: DC Cachar

The forest fire that ravaged the Bhuban Hills is now under control, assured District Commissioner of Cachar, Mridul Yadav. The fire started on Thursday evening near the Hanuman Temple atop the sacred Bhuban Hills. It reportedly began from bonfires lit by devotees who had trekked up the hill to celebrate Shivratri at the historical temple. The fire was left unattended, and with dry bushes in the forest, it quickly escalated. Others also allege that the fire was deliberately set by miscreants.

District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) teams were stationed at Bhuban Hills during Shivratri, along with personnel from Fire and Emergency Services and the District Administration. Fortunately, no casualties have been reported.

Reports of the forest fire spreading in Bhuban Hills first surfaced on Thursday (February 27) evening. By midnight, it had taken a devastating turn, engulfing large parts of the forest. The fire was visible from far-flung areas at night and even from the foothills, 10 km away. Due to the hills’ remote location and the absence of proper roads, fire tenders could not reach the affected area.

DC Cachar Mridul Yadav said, “The Bhuban Mela proceeded peacefully without any incidents. However, last night, we received information about a forest fire. Our team from DDMA was present at the site and found that the fire started from dhoopbatti (burning incense). Due to the presence of dry bushes, the fire spread. No injuries have been reported, and the District Administration team reached the spot this morning. We found that the fire had been extinguished. We have also informed the Forest and Fire Departments to ensure that the fire does not reignite. The situation is under control.”

DC Cachar did not reveal the extent of the forest area affected, stating that a thorough inspection would be required to determine the damage.

The Bhuban Mela concluded on Thursday. The fair, which began on February 25, ended smoothly without any untoward incidents, thanks to administrative vigilance and monitoring. An estimated five lakh devotees visited the hills. By the evening, all devotees had descended.