Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Feb 18: Since the last some days, there have been numerous incidents of forest fires, fire in plantations etc on account of hot climate and strong breeze. Some of the accidents were caused because of coming in contact with loose electricity cables which sway because of the wind.

It may be recalled that over 35 acres of social forests and cashew plantation burnt down in Manila near Vittal on Friday due to sparks from power cables. Due to sparks from a transformer at Siddapur, thousands of rubber trees and areca nut trees were gutted. Several coconut trees, flower plants and other vegetation near Holy Rosary Church in Kundapur were reduced to ashes because of severed power cable. Fire from power short circuit in Hollalru, in Kombaru village, Kadaba, caused loss of over Rs 2.5 lac.

Human errors like setting heap of waste on fire without supervising it thereafter, lack of advance preparations to handle incidents in case fire goes out of control, power cables drawn near the trees of plantations and forest etc have been causing fire often. Throwing away cigarette butts carelessly without extinguishing them, and starting camp fires inside forests also are known to cause fire.

Meteorological experts have warned that velocity of wind, which is quite high already, will get further momentum during the next few days. This also poses the risk of further fires. The maximum temperature in the coastal region is hovering around 39 degree Celsius since the last some days. They say that on account of absence of clouds, rays directly fall on the earth, increasing the heat. When the air around the earth tries to move up, pressure builds and the wind gains in velocity, they have explained.