Fire Damages Part of Margalla Hills in Islamabad

A wildfire erupted in Margalla Hills National Park in Islamabad on Monday due to a severe heatwave. Videos shared by citizens showed smoke rising from the hills, raising concerns about wildlife protection.

Romina Khurshid Alam, the PM’s Coordinator on Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, stated that the Ministry of Climate Change and the Capital Development Authority (CDA) were fully engaged in efforts to control the fire.

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Significant resources have been deployed to combat the fires, which have now spread to the Saidpur village area of Margalla Hills.

A CDA spokesperson confirmed that their teams had arrived at the scene to extinguish the fire. Over 75 CDA firefighters are actively involved, with additional teams sent to expedite control efforts.

The firefighting teams are facing challenges due to strong winds, which are hindering containment efforts. The spokesperson noted that all available resources, including Rescue and CDA teams, along with Rangers, are being utilized.

The fire’s spread to Saidpur village has heightened concerns about potential damage, emphasizing the need for urgent containment measures.

The country is experiencing an extreme heatwave, with soaring temperatures affecting most regions. The Meteorological Office had warned of likely heatwave conditions across the country, especially in Sindh and Punjab, due to high pressure in the upper atmosphere.

The Ministry of Climate Change recently reported that about 26 districts were experiencing severe heatwaves, expected to persist until May 30, with temperatures possibly exceeding 50 degrees Celsius from May 23 to 28, according to Chief Meteorologist Sardar Sarfaraz.