Forest Guard Critically Burnt in Sundargarh Wildfire

Rourkela: A forest department personnel sustained severe burn injuries while three others narrowly escaped harm while trying to douse a wildfire near Brahmani hill under the Kuanrmunda forest range in Odisha’s Sundargarh district on Monday.

The injured forest guard, identified as Samar Oram (34), was rushed to Rourkela Government Hospital (RGH) in a critical condition. Hospital authorities stated that he has suffered nearly 70 per cent burn injuries and is currently undergoing treatment.

According to reports, a four-member forest team—comprising Samar Oram, Bisra Oram, Bipin Minz, and Chama Oram—was dispatched to control a wildfire reported in the reserve forest. While attempting to extinguish the blaze using firefighting equipment, strong winds caused the flames to shift direction and engulf Samar, leaving him with serious burns. The equipment he was using was also destroyed in the fire.

The other three team members managed to escape the blaze unharmed.

Forest officials and local authorities have taken note of the incident, and the department is monitoring Samar’s condition closely. The incident highlights the increasing risks faced by frontline forest staff as wildfire incidents rise across the region.