Rolly at 07:18, 26 March 2026

2026-03-26T07:18:59Z

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{{Short description|Series of fires in Karnataka, India}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox wildfire
| title = Bandipur forest fires
| image = Bandipur fires 2019.jpg
| caption = Bandipur wildfire spreading across forest area
| cost =
| injuries =
| fatalities = Many creatures
| reference =

| date = {{Start date|df=yes|2019|02|21}} – {{End date|df=yes|2019|02|25}}<ref name="DH27Feb19">{{cite news|title=CM's aerial survey of Bandipur today|newspaper=Deccan Herald |date=27 Feb 2019| url=https://www.deccanherald.com/state/cm-s-aerial-survey-bandipur-720539.html}}</ref> 
| location = [[Chamarajanagar district]], [[Karnataka]] in, India
| coordinates = {{coord|11|39|42|N|76|37|38|E|display=inline,title}}
| area = {{Convert|4419.54|ha}}<ref name="DH27Feb19"/>
| buildings =
| cause = act of sabotage
| landuse =
| perps =
| motive =

| is_season = 
| year =
| season_name =
| total_fires =
| total_area =
}}
[[File:2019 Bandipur forest fire feb 21 to 26.gif|thumb|Satellite image of the wildfires burning in Bandipur forest area; smoke can be seen trailing southwestward over [[Kerala]]]]
In February 2019, major [[Wildfire|forest fires]] broke out in numerous places across the [[Bandipur National Park]] in [[Karnataka]] state in [[India]]. The [[National Remote Sensing Centre]] of the [[Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)]] carried out an assessment of the total area affected by the fire. On 25 February 2019, it estimated the extent of burnt area to be about 10,920 acres in the last five days from 21 February 2019.<ref name="HT26Feb19">{{cite news|title=Core areas of Bandipur hit by forest fire, say experts|newspaper=Hindustan Times| date=26 Feb 2019| url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/core-areas-of-bandipur-hit-by-forest-fire-say-experts/story-lTsxh2i3QvCl1UuzAfwl5J.html}}</ref><ref name="IE25Feb19">{{cite news|title=Wildfire destroys over 10,000 acres of Bandipur forest|newspaper=The Indian Express| date=25 Feb 2019| url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/karnataka/2019/feb/25/wildfire-destroys-over-10k-acres-of-bandipur-forest-1943317.html}}</ref><ref name="TH25Feb19">{{cite news|title=Estimates of Bandipur fire damage vary|newspaper=The Hindu| date=25 Feb 2019| url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/estimates-of-bandipur-fire-damage-vary/article26358924.ece}}</ref>

Though the major fire was brought under control by 24 February 2019, some areas continued to burn. The fire also spread to [[Mudumalai National Park]] in [[Tamil Nadu]], causing damage to around 40 acres. The Tamil Nadu forest department took action to ensure that it did not spread further.<ref name="IE25Feb19"/><ref name="HT25Feb19">{{cite news|title=Bandipur forest fire stoked by bureaucratic friction, inaction|newspaper=Hindustan Times| date=25 Feb 2019| url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/bandipur-forest-fire-stoked-by-bureaucratic-friction-inaction/story-A7KiICiQcIO7iEAsdjRVtO.html}}</ref>

== Background ==
On 21 February 2019, a wildfire broke out in the [[Bandipur Tiger Reserve]]. Unlike in previous years, this was the first time the wildfire in Bandipur flared up earlier due to the sudden climatic change and rapid growth of dry grass and [[Lantana]]. Officials reported that there appeared to have been no deaths of the larger mammals in the park, such as [[bison]], [[elephants]], [[leopard]] and [[tiger]].<ref name="NDTV25Feb19">{{cite news|title=Karnataka Continues To Battle Wildfire In Bandipur Forest Area|newspaper=NDTV| date=25 Feb 2019| url=https://www.ndtv.com/karnataka-news/karnataka-continues-to-battle-wildfire-in-bandipur-forest-area-1998877}}</ref>

Over 10,000 acres of forest in Bandipur area was destroyed. With the fire spreading rapidly due to winds, the authorities closed the [[Gundlupet]]-[[Ooty]] National highway and [[safari]]s in Bandipur National Park were also cancelled. Strong winds were making the job of firefighters, forest staff and volunteers more difficult.<ref name="IE24Feb19">{{cite news|title=Fire turns 2,500 acres of Bandipur forest to ashes|newspaper=The Indian Express| date=24 Feb 2019| url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/karnataka/2019/feb/24/fire-turns-2500-acres-of-bandipur-forest-to-ashes-1942992.html}}</ref>

The fire that destroyed Kundakere Range, spread to Barakatte and Guddakere, then to the Himavathi [[Gopalaswamy Hills]]. It also destroyed forests in Jarkal Kere and Gowri Kalu hills. Many smaller mammals and reptiles were killed, along with thousands of trees. There had been no forest-fire incidents noted in Bandipur National Park in the previous two years.<ref name="IE24Feb19"/>

==Firefighting==
[[File:Bandipur firefighting 2019.jpg|thumb|Forest department crew and local people helping to douse the Bandipur forest fire on 24 February 2019.]]
Two [[Mi-17]] [[Indian Air Force]] helicopters were deployed on 25 February 2019 afternoon to douse the fire, which had been raging for three days in the Bandipur Tiger Reserve. The operation on 25 February 2019 was primarily limited to the Gopalaswamy Hills Range in Karnataka's [[Chamarajanagar district]]. The other two ranges that were seriously affected were Kundakere and Bandipur.<ref name="AIR25Feb19">{{cite news|title=Bandipur fire: IAF helicopters pressed into service|newspaper=All India Radio|date=25 Feb 2019|url=http://www.newsonair.com/News?title=Bandipur-fire%3A-IAF-helicopters-pressed-into-service&id=360238|access-date=25 February 2019|archive-date=4 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200604022420/http://www.newsonair.com/News?title=Bandipur-fire:-IAF-helicopters-pressed-into-service&id=360238|url-status=dead}}</ref> The helicopters were deployed after Karnataka state Chief Minister [[HD Kumaraswamy]] called on the Indian Air Force for help.<ref name="TN25Feb19">{{cite news|title=Bandipur forest fire: IAF to help Karnataka govt douse fire in Bandipur Tiger Reserve|newspaper=Times Now| date=25 Feb 2019| url=https://www.timesnownews.com/india/article/bandipur-forest-fire-bandipur-national-park-fire-news-tiger-reserve-nandi-hills-forest-fire-in-karnataka-yercaud-fire-accident-wayanad-wildlife/372425}}</ref> One proceeded towards Karadikal hill ranges while the other fought fires in the general area of Chammana halla top.

Bolagudda and Kanive temple area were also subject to helicopter fire control.<ref name="CRL25Feb19">{{cite news|title=Bandipur fire: Air Force choppers join efforts to douse blaze at tiger reserve|newspaper=Scroll| date=25 Feb 2019| url=https://scroll.in/latest/914605/bandipur-fire-air-force-choppers-join-efforts-to-douse-blaze-at-tiger-reserve}}</ref> A total of 10 sorties were flown, dropping approximately 30,000 litres of water.<ref name="AIR25Feb19" />

==Damage assessment==
[[File:Bandipur Forest Fire 2019 Sentinel 2A Data.gif|thumb|[[Sentinel-2]] Satellite images of the wildfire affected area]]
Satellite images shown the extent of the damage caused by the wildfire. The [[National Remote Sensing Centre]] of the [[Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)]], [[Hyderabad]], released a report based on [[Sentinel-2]] satellite data, which reported that 15,443.27 acres of forest area damaged by the fire between 23 February 2019 and 25 February 2019 in Bandipur forest region alone. [[Nature Conservation Foundation]]'s Wildlife Scientist [[Mysore Doreswamy Madhusudan]] estimated that 17,000 acres would have been affected since the National Remote Sensing Centre excluded the damage in administratively part of Bandipur (Revenue land).<ref name="TH9Mar2019">{{cite news|title=When Bandipur burned|newspaper=The Hindu| date=9 Mar 2019| url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/when-bandipur-burned/article26474683.ece}}</ref>

The number of casualties due to fire has not estimated yet. Wildlife officials say that small animals, reptiles, which are slow-moving, would have borne the brunt, while bigger mammals like leopards and tigers would have fled to the Bandipur Tiger Reserve and taken refuge in nearby areas.<ref name="TH9Mar2019"/>

== Investigation ==
Karnataka's top forest official confirmed that an "act of sabotage" had caused the blaze.<ref name="TOI25Feb19">{{cite news|title=karnataka: Bandipur fire doused, forest official confirm'act of sabotage'|newspaper=Times Of India| date=25 Feb 2019| url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mysuru/karnataka-bandipur-fire-doused-forest-official-confirms-act-of-sabotage/articleshow/68145439.cms}}</ref> Forest officials have arrested two shepherds for allegedly setting fire to the forest. Fearing tiger attacks on their cattle in Bandipur, on 22 February 2019 they had sparked the fire to chase away a tiger which was spotted in the area for a month or so, leading to massive fire, which destroyed thousands of acres of Bandipur forest area. The accused were booked under Indian section 27, 29, 30, 31, 40, 50 and 51 of the [[Wildlife Protection Act, 1972]].<ref name="BM03Mar2019">{{cite news|title=Bandipur blaze: Two shepherds arrested|newspaper=Bangalore Mirror| date=3 March 2019| url=https://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/bangalore/others/bandipur-blaze-two-shepherds-arrested/articleshow/68237419.cms}}</ref><ref name="IT03Mar2019">{{cite news|title=The Massive Wildfire That Burnt Down Bandipur Tiger Reserve Was Ignited By Shepherds To Keep Tigers Away|newspaper=Indiatimes| date=3 March 2019| url=https://www.indiatimes.com/news/india/the-massive-wildfire-that-burnt-down-bandipur-tiger-reserve-was-ignited-by-shepherds-to-keep-tigers-away-363085.html}}</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Bandipur Forest fire1 2019.jpg|Forest fire spreading across the forest region due to dry grass
File:Bandipur Forest fire2 2019.jpg|Smoke coming out of Bandipur Forest area in February 2019
File:Bandipur Forest fire3 2019.jpg|Burnt Region of Bandipur Forest in February 2019
File:Bandipur wildfire 2019.jpg|Massive Bandipur forest fires burning across GS hills region
File:2019 Bandipr Forest Fire VIIRS 375m.gif|Bandipr Forest Fire satellite image taken by NASA's VIIRS sensor
File:Bandipur Forest fire4 2019.jpg|Large smoke can be seen from distance due Bandipur forest fire
File:Road view to and from OOTY (97).JPG|The effect forest fire that spread to [[Mudumalai National Park|Mudumalai]] destroying over 40 acres
</gallery>

== See also ==
* [[List of wildfires]]
* [[2016 Uttarakhand forest fires]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}

{{Disasters in India in 2019}}
{{2019 wildfires}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bandipur forest fires}}
[[Category:2019 disasters in India]]
[[Category:2019 wildfires]]
[[Category:February 2019 in India]]
[[Category:Wildfires in India]]
[[Category:Disasters in Karnataka]]
[[Category:Chamarajanagar district]]
[[Category:2010s in Karnataka]]
[[Category:2019 fires in Asia]]

2019 Bandipur forest fires - Revision history

Rolly at 07:18, 26 March 2026