Daijiworld Media Network - Beed

Beed, Dec 24: In a major blow to environmental conservation efforts in Maharashtra, a massive fire broke out on Wednesday evening at the ‘Sahyadri Devarai’ project in the Palvan area of Beed taluk, reducing years of hard work to ashes.

The blaze, which quickly turned ferocious due to strong winds, engulfed the hilltop forest area, triggering fears that thousands of trees, rare medicinal plants, and countless birds and animals may have perished. The Sahyadri Devarai project, widely regarded as a model for environmental regeneration, was developed through years of dedication by noted actor and environmentalist Sayaji Shinde and his team.

Locals noticed thick plumes of smoke rising from the Palvan hill range in the evening. Within moments, the fire spread rapidly and surrounded the entire Sahyadri Devarai area. The intensity of the blaze was such that flames and smoke were visible from a considerable distance. Alert local residents immediately informed the Forest Department.

Forest officials and staff rushed to the spot along with local villagers and began efforts to contain the fire. However, dry grass, scorching summer heat, and gusty winds have made firefighting operations extremely challenging.

Sayaji Shinde had invested years of relentless effort to transform the barren hills into a lush green forest. Even during harsh summers, water tankers were deployed to ensure the survival of saplings. The devarai was home to several rare indigenous tree species and had become a thriving habitat for birds, reptiles, and other wildlife. Environmentalists fear that many bird nests, eggs, and small ground-dwelling creatures may have been destroyed in the inferno.

Incidents of hill fires have been increasing every summer, raising questions about whether this fire was accidental or deliberately triggered. “We nurtured these trees from saplings using tanker water, and to see them burn before our eyes is heartbreaking,” environmental activists said.

Following the incident, demands have grown for the administration to conduct a thorough probe into the cause of the fire and to implement permanent safety measures such as fire lines and other protective mechanisms to safeguard such ambitious and ecologically significant projects in the future.