India, June 10 -- Udhampur district in Jammu and Kashmir is witnessing a surge in forest fire incidents as an intense heatwave and prolonged dry weather continue to create hazardous conditions across the region.

Forest department officials said multiple fire outbreaks have been reported in recent days, prompting firefighting teams to launch extensive operations to prevent the flames from spreading to nearby villages and ecologically sensitive areas. Authorities have appealed to residents to avoid activities that could trigger fires near forested zones.

According to officials, soaring temperatures, dry vegetation, and strong winds have significantly increased the risk of wildfires. Several forest compartments in the Ramnagar division and...