Himachal authorities keeping close vigil on forest fires

Authorities in Himachal Pradesh are keeping a close vigil on forest fires in the state, one of which triggered panic in Lawrence School, Sanawar, after a blaze in a nearby jungle advanced towards it, making students run helter skelter.
Authorities in the hill state have taken steps as there has been a concern among the people with forest fires occurring in several parts of the state, including areas through which railway lines like the 113-year-old Shimla-Kalka toy train corridor pass, official sources said today.
The forest fire near the 169-year-old boarding school was brought under control yesterday and no damage was caused to the institution.

The sources said fires break out in forests in the state due to highly inflammable dry pine needles catching fire during the summer season.
The British-era toy train, which runs along a 96-km narrow gauge track, and other trains in the state chug through areas having chir, oak and pine forests.
Sanjay Kumar Gera, a station superintendent, said railway personnel are on alert but the main task of handling forest fires is that of the disaster management wing of the state government.

"We are in touch with them," he said.
The state government sources said the frequency of forest fires this year has not been alarming and with periodical rains, they have got naturally extinguished.

Showers in Shimla and Solan districts have helped in putting out the fires in some forest areas, they said.
A major tourist attraction, the Shimla-Kalka toy train was made operation in 1903 and the track has 102 tunnels. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008.