DHARAMSALA, June 2— A massive forest fire broke out late Sunday night near the Indrunag temple, below the paragliding site in Dharamsala, engulfing a vast swathe of forest and reportedly damaging hundreds of pine trees across the hills stretching towards McLeodganj.
Although flames subsided by morning, smoke continued to rise from the scorched terrain, raising fears about wildlife casualties, given the fire’s intensity and reach.
Locals and eyewitnesses blamed the rapid spread on dry grass and gusty winds. “This doesn’t appear to be a natural fire. It started from a height and then spread downward, which is unusual,” said Tarush Jamwal, a local tourist guide, hinting at the possibility of human involvement.
Fire officer Karam Chand said fire tenders were dispatched, but steep terrain prevented them from accessing the upper reaches. “Our main priority was to stop the fire from reaching inhabited areas,” he added.
The cause of the fire remains unknown, and officials have not ruled out deliberate ignition. Investigations are underway.
