The iconic Hollong forest bungalow in Jaldapara National Park in Uttar Barajhar Forest, West Bengal was completely gutted in a fire around 9.30 pm on Tuesday. Two fire tenders from Madarihat failed to douse the flames that engulfed the three-storey wooden bungalow in Jaldapara, known for its one-horned rhinos.
Firefighters suspect the fire was caused by a short circuit in the air conditioning unit. Fortunately, no tourists were present at the time as the forest was closed since June 15.
North Bengal chief forest officer Bhaskar JV said the cause of the fire was being investigated. State Forest Department chief Niraj Singhal said, “No one was injured as there was no tourist present.”
Bookings for the bungalow were cancelled after it reopened on September 15. Built in 1967 in the Jaldapara forest in Madarihat, the bungalow was a popular destination for tourists from India and abroad who sought proximity to various wild animals and birds. For nearly 57 years, lakhs of tourists stayed in the bungalow to enjoy the tranquillity of the forest. The news of the bungalow’s destruction by fire has saddened the tourism community.
“It seems that the bungalow caught fire due to a short circuit. We will get the incident thoroughly investigated,” said Debal Ray, Chief Wildlife Warden, in Bengal.
Earlier this week, a major fire broke out in an abandoned building near the Manipur Secretariat, which is located near the official bungalow of Chief Minister N Biren Singh. Three fire tenders were dispatched and the fire was doused within an hour.
Similarly, a fire in a residential complex in Greater Noida caused by a short circuit in an air conditioner resulted in damage. Similar incidents were reported in Noida this summer due to the increased use of air conditioners during the heatwave. Almora Child Welfare Committee chairman Raghu Tiwari launched an investigation after a minor forest staff member was among the victims of the Binsar forest fire.
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