Lachipora,7 April 2025:
A devastating fire has been raging for several days in the Lachipora Wildlife Sanctuary in Sub Division Uri, causing extensive damage to the region’s rich biodiversity and leading to losses amounting to lakhs of rupees. The fire has reportedly taken a heavy toll on the sanctuary’s ecosystem, particularly endangering the habitat of the rare and protected Markhor species.
The Department of Wildlife and Forest has failed to bring the blaze under control or identify those responsible for what locals are calling a man-made disaster. The cause of the fire remains unknown, but suspicions of deliberate sabotage have sparked outrage among local residents.
“The sanctuary is our pride and lifeline. Watching it burn is heartbreaking,” said one concerned local. The inhabitants of the area are demanding immediate and effective action to extinguish the fire and bring the culprits to justice.
Environmentalists warn that continued delays in firefighting efforts could lead to irreversible damage to the fragile ecosystem of Lachipora, home to several endangered species.