Forest Department observes Forest Martyrs Day in Srinagar

SRINAGAR, SEPTEMBER 11: The Forest Department on Thursday observed Forest Martyrs Day at Shankaracharya Hills in Srinagar, paying solemn tribute to forest personnel who lost their lives in the line of duty.

The gathering was headed by Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of Forest Force (PCCF & HoFF) Sarvesh Rai and attended by senior officers of the Department, including the Chief Conservator of Forests, Kashmir; Conservator of Forests, Srinagar Circle; Joint Director, FPF Kashmir; Joint Director, Soil Conservation, Kashmir; Divisional Forest Officers (DFOs); Deputy Director, FPF Srinagar; Range Officers and other field staff. Nazir Benazir, CAMPA NGO Member, was also present.

Sarvesh Rai, along with senior officers, paid floral tributes at the Martyrs Memorial in honour of the fallen forest personnel.

Speaking on the occasion, the PCCF highlighted the challenging conditions under which forest personnel discharge their duties, including encounters with wild animals and confrontations with timber smugglers.

He paid rich tributes to the Forest Martyrs who made the supreme sacrifice while performing their duties and contributing to the ecological security of Jammu & Kashmir.

As a mark of remembrance, the Department also planted conifer saplings under the banner “Ek Ped Shaheedon Ke Naam” at Balwan, Srinagar, in honour of the Forest Martyrs.

A similar event was organised at the Kashmir Forest Training School, Chitternar, Bandipora, where the Principal of the Kashmir Forest Training School, along with staff and trainees, paid tribute to forest personnel who lost their lives in the line of duty.