The worst turned heatwave has resulted in forest fire erupts in Gangera Hill, Udhampur District of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), the forest officials said.

According to Kashmir Media Service, the forest department personnel promptly responded to contain the blaze. “The fire erupted in the morning. Upon receiving the information, we reached the spot and started dousing the fire. It is still ongoing,” said Bharam Dutt Sharma, Block Forest Officer in Udhampur.

Preliminary estimates from forest officials indicate that the fire has caused significant damage, destroying vast areas of forest and resulting in an estimated loss of millions of rupees in timber and other natural resources.