BAHAWALPUR: An `accidental` fire breaking out on Friday in the forest area of the Lal Sohanra National Park, about 40kms from here, gutted trees and bushes over some eight acres, and was extinguished by Rescue 1122 firefighters after hectic efforts, officials claimed.

According to Rescue 1122 in charge District Emergency Officer Baqir Hussain, on receipt of an emergency call, informing about a fire erupting in the park`s forest area, two fire engines and an ambulances was dispatched to the scene.

However, he said, after reaching the park, the Rescue 1122 staff came to know that the firefighting vehicles could not penetrate deep into the forest area on fire.

He claimed that the rescuers, however, controlled the fire, on an area of some eight acres, manually, after hourslong hectic efforts.

Hussain said the fire burnt and damaged treesand bushes in the forest.

Bahawalpur Division Forest Conservator Gohar Mushtaq confirmed to Dawn by mobile phone that the forest fire had been extinguished on Friday night.

He termed the fire accidental, saying it might have been caused due to throwing of a live matchstick or burning cigarette by some passerby in that area.

However, he said, the exact cause of the fire incident would be known after a probe into the matter, while the extent of the loss could also be assessed after a survey of the affected forest area by the staff concerned.

INTER RESULTS: In the second annual (supplementary) intermediate examination, 2022, 2,769 candidates were declared successful out of the total 7,758 appearing in the exam.

As per results announced here on Friday by the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (BISE), Bahawalpur, the pass percentage remained 35.69pc only.