Kandhamal: In a remarkable act of bravery, a mother and daughter from a remote village in Odisha’s Kandhamal district risked their lives to save the forest from a devastating wildfire.
Their quick thinking, courage and love for nature helped protect the wildlife and forest.
It was a dark night when Bimala Nayak, an elderly woman and her daughter Lipika Mallick, saw flames rising from the forest near their village, Malerimaha. Without hesitation, they decided to act. They knew the fire could destroy the forest and endanger the wildlife, so they set out into the wilderness to fight the flames.
Despite the dangers, including the risk of wild animals and the fierce fire, Bimala and Lipika bravely entered the forest, with their pet dog following closely behind.
They walked nearly half a kilometer into the forest to reach the fire’s epicenter. There, they picked up green branches and used them to beat out the flames, sweeping away the fire from the dry leaves that were fueling the wildfire.
For over seven hours, the mother-daughter duo worked tirelessly to put out the fire. The flames were intense, but they did not give up. They knew they had to stop the wildfire from spreading any further. Back at the village, their family and neighbors became worried when they did not return home. Concerned villagers went searching for them.
As the villagers searched, they were shocked to find Bimala and Lipika returning from the forest. At first, they were worried something had happened to them. The mother and daughter were exhausted, but they explained how they had been fighting the fire.
The villagers were amazed that they had gone into the forest at such a late hour, especially knowing the danger posed by the fire and wild animals.
“We were scared at times, especially when we feared falling into a water canal or being attacked by wild animals,” Bimala said. “But we kept pushing forward, even as the flames flared up around us.”
Lipika added, “The fire spread over 500 to 700 meters. We worked hard to put it out, climbing the hills and reaching the top where we could see the full extent of the fire. When we thought it was over, the fire reignited, and we had to go back and finish the job.”
Kandhamal is known for its vast forests, covering about 71 percent of the district. Despite efforts by the Forest Department to protect the forest and prevent fires, many areas are still vulnerable.
Programs to protect the forest and create new green spaces are underway, but large fires continue to break out, especially in remote areas like Phiringia.
The selfless act of Bimala and Lipika shows just how far one can go to protect the environment. Their bravery reminds us that even in the face of danger, love for nature and the will to act can make a big difference.
Their story of courage and resilience will inspire others to take action and care for the world around them.
