Wildlife Officials Suspect Mischief Behind Chilika Grass Fire

A fire broke out in Chilika Lake in Khordha district, with wildlife officials suspecting that miscreants may have set dry grass ablaze. The fire was brought under control after several hours of firefighting efforts.

Amlan Nayak said such fire hazards commonly occur in Phragmites patches, locally known as Nala grass, where human activity and dry vegetation make the area highly vulnerable.

He said these grass patches catch fire quickly and are difficult to control once the blaze spreads.

Wildlife teams maintain round-the-clock surveillance in the lake region through boats, foot patrols, and vehicles, enabling rapid response whenever fire incidents are detected.

Officials said the affected grassland areas are ecologically significant habitats for Fishing Cat and nesting birds, making fire prevention a priority.

During the recent incident, fire teams from Khordha district and Puri district jointly contained the blaze. Drone surveys later confirmed that no major damage occurred beyond burnt grassland and no animals were harmed.