SATREM: Since last week, the fire continues to rage in the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary and to give its readers a real account of the harrowing experience there, the O Heraldo team went into the mouth of the inferno.
The O Heraldo team waded through the thick forests atop the hillock, covering a small rivulet and a distance of six-eight kilometres. The team witnessed a massive fire and smoke billowing. Dry leaves were burning and trees falling like a pack of cards.
The team members tried to put out the blaze by beating through a bunch of leaves, but in vain.
The fire, which was uncontrollable, was raging through the thick forest and the only option was by spraying either water or carbon dioxide in powdered form by helicopters.
The villagers cautioned the O Heraldo team that the fire was burning atop the hillock and the terrain being rough it would be a steep gradient. O Heraldo team proceeded to ascertain the ground reality and to keep its readers abreast of the situation.
The forest officials were telephonically informing the locals including the panchayat member to ask the O Heraldo team to return immediately as entry to the public into the forest has been banned following the fire incidents.
After nearly two hours, the O Heraldo team, comprising lensman Sagun Gawade, Clinton D’Souza and Devendra Gaonkar, returned after capturing the raging fires.
On reaching the Satrem area, O Heraldo team spotted ICAR scientist Dr A Raizada, who complained of uneasiness while climbing to the steep Deepaji Rane Fort and had to be brought down by the village youth, led by panchayat member Laxman Gawas, on a stretcher.
The team spent almost a day and noticed fire on the hillock at Satrem and adjacent Derode area.
