Bandipur forest catches major fire. Acres of land damaged

​BANDIPUR: An "act of sabotage" as confirmed by a forest official caused a major fire that gutted thousands of acres of land in the Bandipur tiger reserve.

The principal chief conservator of forests Punati Sridhar said they have definite clues that caused the mishap. He added,  "Our probe is continuing. The forest department recently took strict action certain offenders and we suspect they were trying to retaliate."

Forest officials estimated that the fire had devoured at least 60% of the 70-sqkm GB Range, and affected many other stretches of the forest areas in the region. An official "Our probe is continuing. The forest department recently took strict action certain offenders and we suspect