Fire engulfs dense forests in Tirumala

A massive fire broke out at several places in the dense Seshachalam forest ranges on the seven hills in Tirumala where the famous hill temple of Lord Venateswara is situated.
However, no casualty was reported, temple officials told PTI tonight, adding that pilgrim movement to the hill temple was not affected in any manner.
About a thousand acres of forest was destroyed in the fire that engulfed about half a dozen areas including the forests located in Papavinasanam, Gogarbham, Mamandur, Avvacharikona areas, they said.
A large scale of flora and fauna, animals, rare herbal plants, reptiles and birds, were destroyed in the fire which began last night.

The fire is suspected to be a "deliberate" act of some anti-social elements, who caused this every summer, temple sources said.
About 500 personnel from different departments including health and engineering of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam, that manages the hill temple, have been pressed into service today to help the forest fire-fighting staff, that has been trying to douse the flames, they said.
At four places the fire was put out completely, but the fire continued to rage in the dense forest of Mamandoor, they said.
Andhra Pradesh Government has agreed to press two Navy helicopters into service to douse the flames tomorrow and also make an aerial survey to measure how much forest was gutted.