LOWER DIR: Firefighting operations continued for the third consecutive day in the mountainous region of Bar Charai Talash as strong winds, intense heat and rugged terrain hampered efforts to contain spreading forest fires, officials said on Monday.
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Rescue officials reported that the wildfire in the forested hills of Lower Dir remained difficult to control due to rapidly changing weather conditions and inaccessible mountainous terrain. Fire crews were unable to transport vehicles to the affected sites due to the absence of proper access roads, forcing rescue workers to reach the area on foot.
Teams from Rescue 1122, the Forest Department, Civil Defence and local volunteers have been engaged in continuous efforts to stop the fire from spreading further. Rescue personnel have been using traditional firefighting methods due to limited equipment access in the remote region.
District Emergency Officer Sanaullah supervised the ongoing operation, while Civil Defence in-charge Nizamuddin coordinated volunteer efforts on the ground.
Officials said firefighters had managed to bring one blaze in the Kalu Manai mountain range under control after three days of intense effort, although another fire in the nearby Sarai Bala hills was still active.
A Rescue 1122 official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said harsh weather conditions and difficult terrain continued to obstruct firefighting operations. The official also noted limited cooperation from some local residents and forest owners, which further complicated efforts.
Meanwhile, authorities also continued search operations in the region for a man who drowned in the Panjkora River in Khall area. The search has entered its third day, with rescue teams working to recover the body.
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Officials noted that despite a ban on swimming and wood collection in the river, multiple drowning incidents have occurred in Lower Dir over the past week, highlighting ongoing safety concerns in the area.
Rescue teams confirmed that several recent bodies had already been recovered from different points along the river after intensive search operations.