SWAT: A rescuer was martyred and several other persons including three rescuers, sustained severe burns while fighting a wildfire ravaging in Chakesar Tehsil of Shangla District in Swat region on Thursday.
Confirming the incident, Shangla Deputy Commissioner Ziaur Rehman told Pakistan Today that 24-year-old rescuer Nizamullah embraced martyrdom during the operation going on to put out a wildfire in Manga hill of Chakesar area.
“During the fire-fighting operation, three rescuers as well as five locals also sustained severe burns,” he added.
The body of Shaheed rescuer and the injured persons were evacuated from the hill and shifted to Chakesar Tehsil Headquarters Hospital.
According to hospital sources, condition of the injured persons is stable, adding they, however, are undergoing treatment for the burns.
It is to be recalled that a woman, wife of Muhammad Tahir along with her three children burnt alive a couple of days ago when a wildfire engulfed their house in Chakesar area.
On the other hand, hectic efforts have been going on to control the fire, which has been ravaging in the area. The officials of the district administration, police personnel, local volunteers along with officials of Forest and Wildlife Department have been busy making efforts to control the fire.
EIGHT ARRESTED FOR ARSON
Meanwhile, the Swat District administration has arrested eight persons for allegedly for setting fire to 20,000 saplings planted during the plantation campaign in Kabal Tehsil.
District Forest Officer( DFO) Waseem Khan said that an inquiry carried out by the Forest Department proved that the accused named: Toti Rehman, Gohar and Sardar Ali, sons of Shamshad, Khaista, Bacha and Ziarat Khan, sons of Bostan, Ali Sher and Bakht Sher, sons of Buner Gul were involved in arson in Tehsil Kabal.
The fire started in Khem Dara area, which later spread to Asugay and Dokat Sarsenai. As a result, 20,000 plants were burnt, he informed.
The Forest Department sent a letter to the police to register an FIR against the accused persons. Police have arrested the accused but no FIR has been registered yet, said the police officials.
FIRE BREAKS OUT IN MORE AREAS
On the other hand, wildfire erupted in five more places in Swat including Kalakot, Elum, Bandai, Dherai Baba and Mela Gah hills. Rescue, police, levies and forest department personnel, with the help of locals, extinguished the fire.
More than 30 fire incidents have taken place in the last five days in Swat and crackdowns have been launched against the culprits after receiving reports of arson in most places and 13 suspects have been arrested.
