ISLAMABAD: Authorities in Pakistan’s federal capital, Islamabad, announced the arrest of three people suspected of starting forest fires in the Margalla Hills, which stretch along the northern edge of the city, as temperatures soared to 41 degrees Celsius on Friday afternoon.
The Margalla range, part of the Himalayan foothills, has experienced bush fires relatively often in the summer months. There have also been multiple fires during this month, largely attributed to the extreme heat wave affecting the region.
Efforts to contain and extinguish these fires involved both ground and aerial firefighting resources, with the government ordering investigations to determine if they were started deliberately.
Islamabad’s Deputy Commissioner Irfan Nawaz Memon mentioned the arrest of the three suspects on Friday afternoon as residents of the city saw plumes of smoke rising from the hills while efforts to contain the flames continued.
“Three people have been arrested on suspicion of starting fires in the hills,” he continued. “Firefighters and helicopters are participating in the firefighting efforts. Precautionary measures have been taken to keep the fire contained away from residential areas.”
Memon said intensity of heat and strong winds were causing the fire to spread. He also informed that interrogations were underway with the arrested individuals, and cases had been registered against 15 individuals involved in arson two days ago.
“More arrests are expected in the coming days concerning the fires on the hills,” he added. “Citizens are requested to help identify those involved.”
Muhammad Ali Randhawa, the chairman of Islamabad’s Capital Development Authority, a public service corporation responsible for providing municipal services to the city, also mentioned the arrests in a social media post, saying the authorities would protect the beauty of the hills “at any cost.”
“We will ensure all those responsible are held accountable,” he added.
