A large plume of smoke enveloped Chamundi Hills, and vehicles to and from the hill were diverted. Around 7.30 p.m. the flames were put out and only burning cinders remained.
The ‘ground fire’ is estimated to have caused damage to 40 acres.
Deputy Conservator of Forests Karikalan told The Hindu that it was a man-made fire and contrary to popular perception, there are no natural fires that occur in India.
“We suspect the handiwork of miscreants, who may have set the dry vegetation on fire or carelessly flung a beedi or a cigarette. The other suspected cause is random burning of garbage near the foothills, and the leaping flames may have set the vegetation — which is completely dry — on fire,” he said.
The Forest Department had cleared dry vegetation along 70 km of the fire lines through controlled burning during winter, and this helped contain the fire from spreading to other parts of the hill.
“We have fire lines in concentric circles around Chamundi Hills, and that is why the Nandi statue and the hill top are protected,” Mr. Karikalan added.
Published - February 25, 2015 12:00 am IST
