Currently, wildfires are tearing through more than 130 forest areas across Odisha, and it’s spreading fast. Places like Karlapat Sanctuary in Kalahandi South, along with the Mohan, Chitrakonda, Rayagada, and Udayagiri ranges, are getting hit especially hard. Fires have also broken out in Deogarh, Kuchinda, and Muniguda, which threatens wildlife and throws a wrench in conservation efforts.The Forest Department is scrambling to keep up. They’ve set up a Forest Control Room and given out a toll-free number—18003457158—so people can report fires as they happen. There’s a new SOP out so those at divisional and circle levels can work together better and respond faster. It’s all about streamlining communication when every minute counts.On the ground, there are 334 fire protection squads spread out across all the wildlife and territorial divisions. To keep fires from jumping from one area to another, they’ve cleared out over 20,000 kilometers of fire lines already. With the peak fire season expected to last until the end of May, officials are working under high pressure to mitigate the impact on Odisha’s biodiversity.
