Flawed handling of foliage waste resulted in a major fire in the Nehru Zoological Park on Monday, ending up in destruction of vegetation in over 1.5 acres of land, but apparently causing no loss to animal life.
According to sources, fire broke out on Monday morning at a vacant plot near the zoo entrance when the staff was involved in cleaning operations. After clearing the leaf waste from the plot, the staff allegedly set it on fire which went out of control in no time.
Fortunately, it being a holiday for the zoo, there were no visitors, and the vacant land had no animal or bird enclosures nearby. However, a few logs of felled trees kept in the plot were burnt to ashes, and so was the dry grass, sources said. Fire tenders were called in time, and took about two hours to douse the flames.
There has not been any confirmation of the incident or reasons thereof from zoo officials, who have remained out of contact.
