20240416 Fire destroys flora in Astha Kunj park, cause being probed
India Apr 16 2024 “Other”
Dead : dead 0 or unknown Burnout : 0 or unknown Injured : injured 0 or unknown
Fire destroys flora in Astha Kunj park, cause being probed
Updated: 2024-04-16
New Delhi: Several trees and other vegetation at south Delhi’s Astha Kunj Park were destroyed in a major fire on Sunday night. The fire was doused after some passersby called the fire brigade. Ashes and charred trees were lying all around. The reason for the incident is yet to be ascertained.
“We received a complaint at 10.20 pm that a part of the park was burning. A fire tender was rushed to the area to douse the fire. We suspect that the burning of either garbage or dry horticulture waste could have led to the fire,” said an official from Delhi Fire Service.
There was no reaction available from officials of Delhi Development Authority, which maintains the park, till Monday evening.
The TOI had earlier reported how several fire incidents had taken place in Delhi in recent times and trees turned into ashes after heaps of horticulture waste were set on fire. Green activists, too, have been seeking action in the wake of the rising incidents of fire in parks, gardens, urban forests and roadside plantations in several areas, including Vasant Kunj, Qutub Industrial Area, Dwarka and RK Puram, this season.
“Many such incidents due to burning of dry leaves are happening this summer. But I’m glad that people are now proactive about calling Delhi Fire Service immediately to handle the fires. This saves many trees from getting burnt. Thankfully, staffers of the department are also quick to respond, well-trained and equipped for handling such situations,” said Verhaen Khanna, founder of New Delhi Nature Society.
He further alleged that trees in parks don’t get much nutrition. “Fallen leaves are either swept away or burnt. Compost is seldom used. Hence, such trees are more vulnerable to falling during a storm,” explained Khanna.
Recently, following a blaze, activists in RK Puram hadjoined hands to separate dryleaves from the main forestareas to avoid more trees catching fire.
Experts said that such fire incidents not only add to pollution but they also prevent many important nutrients from returning to the soil through the natural composting of leaves.
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Web Source The Times of India