Fire breaks out in Nuristan forest area

PARON (Pajhwok): A fire broke out in the Sham Dara forest area of ​​Nurgram district in eastern Nuristan province, with efforts ongoing to douse the blaze, officials said on Friday.

Deputy Governor Sheikh Zar Mohammad Haqqani told Pajhwok Afghan News that technical personnel and equipment had been brought from neighboring Nangarhar province to put out the blaze and hoped it would be extinguished soon.

Maulvi Suliman Yamin, Nuristan's director of agriculture, said the fire broke out three days ago and a portion of the forest had also been burnt.

He said it was not yet known how the fire started but an investigation was underway.

But a local source told Pajhwok Afghan News the fire broke out in an area disputed between two tribes.

The dispute between the two tribes has been ongoing for the last several years in the Sham Dara area and sometimes even armed clashes occur between the rival sides.

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