A major fire has damaged a large part of the famous Molai forest created by environmentalist Jadav Payeng in Assam. According to local sources, miscreants allegedly set the blaze in an area where new saplings had recently been planted.
The incident has caused serious damage to the forest cover. Many of the young saplings that were part of ongoing reforestation work were completely destroyed in the blaze. Residents living near the forest said the flames spread very quickly, burning both dry leaves and green plants.
The Molai forest is known across India because it was developed over several decades by Jadav Payeng, who is popularly called the “Forest Man of India.” He began planting trees on the once-barren land many years ago, slowly turning it into a dense forest that now shelters many species of birds, animals and insects. 
Speaking to Northeast Scoop, Jadav Payeng said the fire may have been started by someone who grazes cattle in the area. “They are often afraid of tigers and other wild animals, so they might have set the fire to drive them away. But I did not see anyone with my own eyes. I was not at home at that time, I was in Dibrugarh. The fire took place during the day. When I got the call, villagers went there to douse the flames. Around 100 hectares of newly planted saplings may have been burnt. Now we will conduct a survey to find out the exact damage,” he said.
Payeng added that the saplings were an important source of food for wildlife such as elephants and monkeys. Young animals also take shelter in the area during the rainy season. Since 2022, large numbers of saplings had been planted on nearby hill slopes to support wildlife. Much of that plantation has now been destroyed in the fire.
