Udhagamandalam: Continuing unabated for the third day yesterday, the forest fire in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR) in Nilgiris district has now spread to around 250 acres.
According to media reports, more than 100 forest officials along with the tribals were carrying out efforts to douse the fire. Tourists have been banned from entering into MTR.
The fire began on Saturday evening and officials suspect it be man-made.
Meanwhile, a major fire broke out in the Bandipur Tiger Reserve, which started on Thursday and continued to rage on Saturday and hundreds of acres have been destroyed.
The delay in putting out the fire is said to be because of the high velocity of winds and the presence of thorny plant spread across the forest and this was hampering movement of the forest officials.