Fire breaks out in Seshachalam forests

Vijayawada: A massive fire broke out in Seshachalam forests near Tirupati on Sunday evening, triggering panic as flames spread rapidly across a vast stretch of greenery. The fire reportedly began around 6:30 pm at Mondodi Kona near Jeevakona and raged for nearly three hours, destroying forest cover across approximately two kilometres.The blaze advanced dangerously close to the forest dept headquarters at Kapilatheertham and moved towards sensitive red sandalwood storage zones near Thimminaidupalem. Officials suspect possible human involvement, as the fire originated in an area under regular surveillance. Firefighting teams and forest personnel rushed to the spot and worked intensively to contain the flames and prevent further spread.Deputy chief minister Pawan Kalyan termed the incident a "serious ecological threat" and ordered a comprehensive probe. He held a review with senior officials and sought an explanation from the principal chief conservator of forests, while directing strict monitoring and preventive measures. The latest incident comes amid a series of forest fire concerns in the region. A minor fire at Tirumala on March 6 took nearly four hours to contain, while a major blaze at Tumbura Teertham near Papa Vinasanam on May 2 last year raged for 16 hours before being brought under control. Notably, during a major fire episode in 2014, Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams and the state govt deployed helicopters to douse flames in the Seshachalam forests.