Two suspects, who are believed to have started the fire in Wangdue Phodrang, have been detained. In their statement to the police, the suspects had said, they had started a fire to brew tea while they were herding cattle.
The forest fire at Athan Gewog in Wangdue Phodrang was contained at 4pm today. The fire had continued to rage for two days before it was contained. The forest officials from the gewog, dzongkhag and the Park officials, along with the villagers, helped control the fire.
A thousand acre of forest was destroyed by the fire.
The fire had started at 11pm on Tuesday at a place called Zaw Za Sa, about two hours walk away from the gewog centre.
The forest officials said, they will assess the total damage and impose a fine on the duo accordingly, once the investigation is over.
