Rescue efforts underway as Margalla Hills under fire again

A wildfire at Margalla erupted due to the heatwave again on Friday.

Firefighters have started a new round of battle against the forest blaze just two days after the previous one was extinguished.   

Coordinator to the Prime Minister on Climate Change at Romina Khursheed said Pakistan Air Force helicopters are also participating in rescue operation while representatives from the district administration, Capital Development Authority (CDA) and Pakistan Navy are actively working at sit. 

All the government departments, including emergency services, hospitals, civil and defence authorities, local bodies and the Punjab government, were high-alerted to address the situation. 

Bahawalpur Deputy Commissioner Zaheer Anwar Jappa asked the government for swift action to save plants from the heat on the green belt in Bahawalpur city.

PM’s coordinator said the fire erupted at two places on Margalla Hills and E-9 hills. The ministry and authorities are in coordination. 

She said the Natural Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and others to bring the fire under control.

The Margalla Hills National Park, spreading over 12,605 hectares, met with fire a second time in a week. On Tuesday, the fire broke at Margalla’s Saidpur Trail 3 and spread towards Noor Pur Range.