Bhubaneswar: A fire that broke out in Chilika Lake on Saturday was finally brought under control after hours of effort by wildlife and fire service teams, officials said. The blaze spread through dry Phragmites patches, locally called Nala grass, before coordinated teams from Khordha and Puri districts contained it.
Wildlife officials suspect miscreants may have set fire to the dry grass in the ecologically sensitive area, though the exact cause is still being investigated. Divisional Forest Officer, Chilika Wildlife Division, Amlan Nayak, said such incidents are common in the region due to dry vegetation and human activity.
“Phragmites patches are prone to fire, which spreads quickly and is hard to control,” he said. He added that wildlife teams maintain round-the-clock surveillance across the lake using boats, foot patrols, and vehicles for quick response.
“These patches are vital habitats for fishing cats and nesting birds, so we take special care to protect them,” Nayak said. Fire control operations were intensified immediately after the blaze was reported. Teams worked for hours to prevent its spread. Drone surveys conducted after the fire was extinguished confirmed no major damage beyond burnt grass. No animals were harmed, officials said.
