India, April 10 -- Forest fires that had erupted in several parts of Mizoram's Phawngpui National Park have affected nearly one-ninth of the park's total area, state forest officials said on Thursday. They, however, ruled out the possibility of a larger wildfire.

A blaze had broken out at a slash-and-burn (jhum) cultivation farm in Archhuang village on March 11 and subsequently spread into the park's forest zones, Lalmuanpuia, the range officer of the Phawngpui National Park, said.

The flames were brought under control by March 28 with the help of villagers living near the park, but some areas continued to smoulder. "Villagers from Sangau, Sentetfiang, Thaltlang, Vawmbuk, Archhuang, Siachangkawn and Cheural did their best to contain the...