Daijiworld Media Network - Chamarajnagar(DC)
Chamarajnagar, Mar 1: The forest department arrested a man in connection with forest fire in Bandipur Tiger Reserve.
The arrested has been identified as Arun Kumar from Kallipura. Soon after fire spread across the forest, the accused went absconding.
The locals informed forest officer Puttaswamy about Arun and a team led by Naveen arrested him.
Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy on Wednesday had conducted an aerial survey of the Bandipur National Park and the destruction due to the inferno.
The blaze in the Bandipur National Park in Chamarajanagar district was brought under control on Tuesday, through coordinated efforts of the Indian Air Force, the district fire brigade, forest guards and locals after nearly five days.
Two Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopters sprayed 19,000 litres of water in seven sorties across the affected area on Tuesday.
Though the cause of the wildfire is yet to be ascertained and currently under investigation, officials said it was confined to about 30 sq km in the core area and 20 sq km in the periphery of the 1,320 sq km national park that straddles across the inter-state border into Tamil Nadu.
Eyewitnesses said the blaze destroyed hundreds of trees and bushes, though no wildlife casualties have been reported.