Mysuru: Manju and Manu, the two forest staffers who suffered burn injuries while trying to douse the wildfire at Kalkere range in Banidpur National Park earlier this week have expressed their desire to resume their duty to protect the forest soon after getting discharged from the hospital.
The duo got injured while trying to save their Range Forest Officer Gangadar and are currently undergoing treatment at Apollo Hospital in Mysuru.
Both Manju and Manu were instrumental in rescuing their RFO Gangadhar, who recently took charge at Maliyur Range which comes under Bandipur National Park. On the fateful day, RFO Gangadhar along with eight forest personnel, including Manju, Manu and the deceased forest guard Murgeppa had rushed to Kalkere range to aid the dousing of wildfire. Due to the wind, the fire had become uncontrollable. While Manju and Manu both were safe, seeing their RFO in trouble they had rushed back to save him and the three had suffered nearly 15 to 30 percent burn injuries in the process. They later had been shifted to hospitals by their colleagues and family members.
RFO Gangadar had led a team of eight to fight the fire and forest guard Murgeppa Tammangol had died on the spot. This incident also brought to light some anomalies on the part of the department. Most of the forest watchers working in Maliyur forest range are not given shoes; if they had them, Manju would not have suffered injuries on both his legs.
Speaking to Newskarnataka, Manju who has suffered burn injuries on his face, hands and legs, said, “We were working in our Maliyur range which is nearly 10 km from Kalkere range. Soon after the fire broke out at Kalkere our RFO Gangadar Sir took us to Kalkere range to aid dousing the fire. After we got down in Kalikere range where the wild fire was reported, it was manageable in the beginning but later all of a sudden due to wind the flames turned stronger and uncontrollable and it was difficult to douse. Me and Manu were almost safe but when we saw our RFO n danger we rushed back to save him. Though we suffered injuries, we feel great as we managed to save our officer. After recovering from injury I will come back to duty and try to do my level best to protect forest and our staff members.”
Manju’s mother Rani said, “Just after enrolling his name in the ration card he got into the job on that fateful day. This is his first job and he is yet to receive his first salary. He was telling that though he was safe from the fire, after seeing his officer in trouble, he jumped in and saved him. Hope the government provides him permanent job in the forest department.” This is the same wish that Manu’s parents have.
