Forest officials on Tuesday evening arrested Sudheesh, a resident of Pancharakolly, on the charge of setting fire to grasslands in the Kambamala forest in Mananthavady, Wayanad, on Monday.
The fire recurred in the same place on Tuesday as well and was doused late in the evening.
The fire had engulfed nearly 10 acre of grasslands at Pilakkavu Kambamala and spread across Thavinjal panchayat and Mananthavady municipality around noon on Monday.
It took the Fire and Rescue Services four hours to douse the fire and prevent it from spreading to residential areas. Three units from Mananthavady fire station and one from Kalpetta were deployed and other arrangements made at the foothills to prevent the spread of the fire.
Forest officials and the rapid response team too took part in the operation.
Though wildfire is commonplace in the grasslands during summer, recurring incidents at the same place were viewed with suspicion. North Wayanad Divisional Forest Officer K.J. Martin Lowel had suggested that the fire could have been set deliberately.
Mr. Sudheesh was handed over to the police.
Published – February 18, 2025 09:07 pm IST
