Bengaluru: A massive forest fire broke out in the ecologically sensitive Charmadi Ghat section of Western Ghats in Mudigere taluk of Chikkamagaluru, triggering alarm among forest officials and motorists using the busy Bengaluru-Mangaluru highway. The fire, which started within Mudigere forest range, is rapidly spreading across the shola grassland patches due to strong winds, turning large swathes of vegetation into ash.
Charmadi Ghat, a crucial road link connecting coastal Karnataka with the hinterland, witnessed thick smoke billowing close to the highway, creating panic among travellers. Several motorists reported poor visibility and feared flames reaching the road at some stretches, raising concerns over traffic safety along the ghats section that sees heavy movement of vehicles, especially buses and goods carriers during night hours.Forest officials said the blaze affected sensitive shola grassland ecosystems of Western Ghats, known for their rich biodiversity and role in water conservation. Strong winds in the region hampered firefighting efforts, allowing the flames to spread rapidly across dry vegetation. Residents and activists alleged that delays in marking fire lines and absence of effective firebreaks contributed to rapid spread of the blaze.Following alerts by locals, fire and emergency service teams and forest department personnel rushed to the spot and are engaged in intensive firefighting operations. Officials said manual fire lines are being created as teams attempt to douse the flames using available equipment.
