Mongla: A new incident of fire was reported at Tulatuli under Chandpai forest range in Sundarban on Wednesday late afternoon.

The officials of forest department and fire service went to the spot and with the help of local people started efforts to bring the fire under control. But, till receiving the report at 8:00pm, the blazes were beyond control.   

‘It will take the whole night to stop the fire,’ said Sundarban division forest range officer Saidul Islam. He said the fire had already destroyed about an acre land and was on its way to engulfing surrounding areas.

Forest department formed a new three-member committee, led by Chandpai range assistant forest conservator Belayet Hossain, to investigate the incident. The other members are Chandpai station officer Gazi Motiar Rahman and Dhangmari station officer Abdul Mannan. It was asked to submit report by three days.

Belayet Hossain they were first reported the fire incident by a forest guard, who noticed the smoke at about 3:30pm at Tulatuli, about 2,000 feet west of Arubaria Khal under Dhansagal station of Chandpai.

Fire officials started constructing fire line around the area. A fire line is an artificially made gap in the forest that acts as a barrier to slow or stop the progress of wildfire. The officials are also spreading water to stop the progress of fire.