Forest personnel and local villagers battle a forest fire on the slopes of Horsley Hills near Madanapalle in Annamayya district on Saturday evening. | Photo credit: HANDOUT
A forest fire that broke out in the Horsley Hills reserve forest in Annamayya district was brought under control after forest personnel with the support of local villagers took several hours to put it out.
Officials said the fire was first detected on the night of February 26 and is believed to have spread from the Karnataka side into the reserve forest. Emergency crews rushed to the spot and battled the flames for nearly three hours before bringing them under control. The fire reignited on the evening of February 28, moving toward the foot of the mountains and raising new concerns.
Preliminary estimates indicate that nearly 50 hectares of forest area, mostly wild grass, has been affected. Forest Range Officer Madanapalle J. Prasada Rao clarified that the damage was limited to about 20 hectares near the Karnataka border, leaving the core of the reserve intact.
No animal losses have been reported so far. Additional personnel have been deployed and the situation is being monitored round-the-clock, he said, crediting villagers for early detection and prompt information that helped contain the spread.
Published – March 1, 2026 7:33 PM IST
