Srinagar: A forest employee died during a firefighting operation in Anantnag district, triggering calls for improved safety, equipment and risk allowance for frontline forest personnel in Jammu and Kashmir.
Officials said Gh. Mohammad Shah, son of Mohammad Maqbool Shah and a resident of Changoo Verinag, was part of a team engaged in extinguishing a forest fire in Compartment 48/V of Hangipora Beat in the Verinag Range on Friday when he lost his life.
Shah was posted as an MTS (Orderly) and was awaiting promotion to Forest Guard.
His death has caused concern within the forest department and among field staff, who say territorial forest personnel regularly handle fires, wildlife threats, timber smuggling and difficult terrain without risk allowance or specialised protection.
According to officials, Shah and other field staff had no fire-resistant gear, wildlife protection equipment or modern firefighting devices during the operation.
Forest staff deployed on the ground said territorial personnel do not receive the 2.5-day salary benefit, ration money or several service protections available to other uniformed forces.
The incident has also revived criticism over differences in benefits between the territorial forest staff and the Forest Protection Force (FPF).
Employees allege that despite limited field deployment, the FPF continues to receive allowances meant for high-risk duties, while personnel working round-the-clock in forests do not.
Staff members also pointed to the absence of a fixed duty schedule for territorial forest workers, who are expected to remain available 24 hours, including nights and holidays, without clarity on working hours or rest periods.
Shah’s death has intensified demands for reforms that include risk allowance, firefighting and wildlife-protection equipment, ration money, the 2.5-day salary benefit, defined duty hours and effective field deployment of the FPF.
Forest workers said the rise in forest fires due to climate conditions requires urgent government attention to the safety and welfare of personnel working in direct field operations.
Shah is remembered by colleagues for his long service in the Anantnag Forest Division. They said his death should prompt measures to protect staff engaged in safeguarding the forest resources of Jammu and Kashmir.
