Major fire averted in Jalpaiguri

Darjeeling: Intervention of local residents and forest personnel, who had arrived to drive away an elephant, helped avert a major fire at the tourism mega project "Bhorer Alo" in Gajoldoba in Jalpaiguri district.

Bhorer Alo located at Gajoldoba in Jalpaiguri district is located 15 km from Siliguri town. Spread across a sprawling 210 acres Bhorer Alo is on the fringes of Baikanthapur forest division.

On Monday around 11pm an elephant had strayed into Bhorer Alo. "A lone elephant had strayed into the locality. There are many villages in the vicinity and elephants sometimes stray into these areas. We successfully drove the elephant back into the forest," stated Rahul Dev Mukherjee, Assistant Divisional Forest Officer, Baikunthapur Forest Division.

The forest department team from the Belakoba Range while returning spotted a fire in Bhorer Alo bordering the forest.

They informed the fire department. Aided by local residents they started fighting the fire. A fire engine arrived from Jalpaiguri. The fire was put off without any major damage.

Bhorer Alo is dubbed as the country's largest integrated tourism project when complete will boast of a budget hotel, 2 star category hotels and high end hotel along with a 9 hole golf course spread on 60 acres of land.