A forest fire has been burning for the past two days inside Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary in Sikkim, near the Indo-China border, raising concerns over prolonged dry weather and challenging high-altitude terrain, forest officials said on January 22.
The fire broke out on January 20 at an altitude of about 13,000 feet and has affected nearly 12 hectares of forest land so far, according to Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Udai Gurung. Firefighting efforts have been hampered by steep and inaccessible terrain, strong winds, and restrictions in areas under Army jurisdiction.
Officials said the absence of snowfall and extended dry conditions have worsened the situation, enabling the fire to spread rapidly. Teams from the Forest Department, Fire Services, the Indian Army, and local volunteers have been deployed to contain the blaze.
Authorities confirmed that no loss of life or property has been reported, as the affected area has no human habitation, army bunkers, or barracks.
Forest officials are closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with all concerned agencies to prevent further spread. Earlier, a separate forest fire at Thambi Dara near Nathula on January 18 was successfully brought under control within a day due to swift firefighting efforts.
