Strong winds hamper efforts to douse Margalla Hills fire

ISLAMABAD: A forest fire has broken out on the Margalla Hills, damaging priceless timber and causing environmental concerns.

A blaze erupted near Jungle No 15 at Saidpur Darra and close to Rumli in the Margalla Hills on Monday, Wildlife Management Board officials said.

Personnel from Islamabad Wildlife Management Board and the Capital Development Authority are on site, working to douse the flames. Extra crews have been rushed in, but high winds are hampering efforts.

“All available resources are being deployed to bring the fire under control quickly,” a spokesperson said.

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Margalla Hills National Park, which covers 12,605 hectares, faces a dangerous fire spell each summer. From April to June, blazes flare up repeatedly and usually subside only when the monsoon sets in around July.

Rising temperatures linked to climate change leave the slopes dry and highly flammable, while human carelessness—discarded cigarettes, unsupervised barbecues and other combustible items carried by visitors—frequently ignites fresh outbreaks.