
A forest fire broke out near the 25th hairpin bend on the Bannari Ghat Road in Erode district on Tuesday morning. The fire was reported around 11am and was triggered by sparks from high tension power cables that ignited dry leaves.

Fire and rescue services personnel reached the spot by 11.30am and extinguished the flames. Officials said there was no casualty or injury. Hasanur police station special sub-inspector K Murugesan, who oversaw safety measures and coordinated with the fire service team, said the blaze had been contained quickly and that there was no cause for concern. Routine monitoring of the area continues to prevent further incidents.
The Bannari Ghat Road, a vital link through the Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve, sees frequent dry-season fires due to overhead power lines and dry leaf litter. The reserve is part of the Nilgiri Biosphere and hosts significant elephant and tiger populations. Quick containment prevented any impact on wildlife or traffic on the busy ghat road. Forest and police patrols typically intensify during summer months to catch early signs of such fires. The next test will be the upcoming dry spell forecast for the region.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
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