Fire causes extensive damage to Gymkhana marshland at Kodai

A fire has caused extensive damage to the Gymkhana marshland at the hill station of Kodaikanal in this district.
Officials said the fire broke out about ten days ago in the marshland and destroyed about ten acres of vegetation. The blaze was extinguished after three days, they said.
According to officials, the marshland is under the control of both fisheries department and the local administration (Municipality).
They said one of the reasons for the blaze occurring is the hot weather following which grass in the marshland became dry, triggering the fire. Other reasons could be a lighted cigarette or matchstick dropped carelessly.

A local botanist Krishnadoss claimed encroachers could have caused the fire. Marshlands play a major role in filtering rain water, he added.
The marshland contain plants such as cyperaceae, poaceae and polyconaceae which attract a variety of birds.