Mongla: A fire, which started at Tulatuli under Chandpai forest range in Sundarban on Wednesday late afternoon, has been raged since Thursday morning due to breeze and water shortage.

The fire was on in different areas of Chandpai range at about 10:00am.

The forest division officials said despite of efforts fire fighters are struggling to extinguish the fire because of water insufficiency and heavy breeze.

However, local people with water in pitcher and bucket also joined with the fire fighters in the early hours of Thursday.

Forest division said officials of eight forest camps, Morelganj fire fighters, and local people are working to douse the flames.

The forest workers claimed blazes in some parts of the range came under control after the efforts of Thursday morning.

East Sundarban Chandpai range station officer Gazi Motiar Rahman said: ‘Fire fighters are spreading water on places from where flames and smoke are rising sporadically.’

He said miscreants intentionally set the forest on fire. However, the station officer could not say whether any case would be filed in this connection.

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.

In the last month, there have been four fire incidents the world’s largest mangrove forest.