Anantnag, Dec 7, A forest guard lost his life while battling a forest fire in the Khadar area of Kapran in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district on Sunday.
Officials said the deceased has been identified as Gull Muhammad Shah, a resident of Changoo, who was serving as the in charge of Compartment 48 of the Hengipora Range in Verinag forest division. Shah was part of a firefighting team deployed to contain the blaze when he suddenly collapsed on duty.
Colleagues rushed to his aid and immediately shifted him from the site, but he could not be revived. Officials said the exact cause of his collapse will be ascertained after completion of medico-legal procedures.
The body of the deceased forest guard was transported to District Hospital Anantnag for necessary medico-legal formalities. Officials said further action would follow as per standard protocol.
Shah’s death has sent shockwaves through the Forest Department, with officials describing him as a dedicated field officer who had been actively involved in fire-control efforts in vulnerable forest compartments.
Forest fires have posed recurring challenges in several parts of Kashmir, requiring personnel to operate in difficult terrain and hazardous conditions.
The aggrieved forest employees said the incident underlines the need for enhanced safety measures, equipment and medical preparedness for staff engaged in firefighting operations in remote forest areas.
