Handwara, Nov. 27 -- A raging forest fire broke out in the dense Mawer forest range of Nowgam sector, Handwara, late Wednesday evening, prompting a high-stakes rescue and firefighting operation that stretched into the night. Range Officer Mawer Shiekh Iqbal was among the first responders on site, coordinating efforts to contain the blaze, which locals described as "fiercely spreading" through dry underbrush fueled by strong winds.

Two forest officials including Bashir Ahmad Wani and Mohammad Mohmin sustained injuries during the initial containment attempts. Their conditions are reported as stable but serious, highlighting the perilous nature of firefighting in the rugged LoC-adjacent terrain. "The fire's intensity caught us off guard, bu...