India, Jan. 15 -- A forest fire has been raging for the last six days in the Manzgam forest area of Upper Brein Nishat, in Srinagar outskirts and engulfing large stretches of surrounding forest cover, officials said on Thursday.

Officials said teams from the Forest Department, Forest Protection Force, Wildlife Department, and Soil Conservation field staff have been continuously engaged on the ground to bring the fire under control. However, the difficult terrain and lack of motorable road access have severely hampered firefighting efforts.

According to officials, employees have been forced to reach the affected areas on foot and are using sticks and manual methods to douse the flames. Bushes and dry grass across the forested slopes ha...