Udhampur, June 6 -- A forest fire broke out in a compartment in the Dabbar area near Flata village in Udhampur district, prompting an immediate response from the forest department.

Range Officer Ayush Gupta stated that teams were deployed to the location as soon as the information was received. Gupta had been managing another fire in the Tirchi forest area of Udhampur, which has since been brought under control, before rushing to the Dabbar site to oversee the ongoing containment operations. He added that efforts were made to control the fire.

The forest department has issued an appeal to the public following a three-to-four-day heatwave advisory from the Meteorological Department.

Residents are urged not to light fires near forested z...