Wedding procession booked for forest fire

The Uttarakhand forest department has booked members of a wedding procession for negligence after they triggered a forest fire that affected at least 14 hectares of land in Champawat district, officials said on Sunday.

- Amit Bathla

DEHRADUN:

The forest fire erupted in a reserved forest area in Salli panchayat on April 25. Champawat divisional forest officer Navin Pant said the department was struggling to douse the fire, which was allegedly triggered by the members of a wedding procession on their way to Kukdoni village of the district.

"At least 14 hectares of the forest land have been affected. Our personnel are still struggling to douse the forest fire caused two days ago," Pant said.