Devastating Fire Destroys Community Forest in Jorhat

A catastrophic fire at Mulai Kathoni 2.0 in Jorhat has resulted in the destruction of over 5,000 trees and significant wildlife loss. Initiated by Munmuni Payeng, daughter of the renowned 'Forest Man of India', this community-led forest regeneration project aimed to restore greenery along the Brahmaputra riverbanks. The fire, suspected to be deliberately set, has raised concerns about the future of conservation efforts in the area. Despite the quick response from volunteers and students, large portions of the forest were devastated. The local administration and Forest Department are now assessing the damage, with further updates expected.

By Narendra Chaudhary Dec 29, 2025, 14:33 IST

Fire Ravages Mulai Kathoni 2.0

Jorhat, Dec 29: A significant fire erupted at Mulai Kathoni 2.0, a community-driven forest restoration project located near the Baghmara picnic area, resulting in the loss of extensive green cover and the destruction of over 5,000 trees.

The blaze, which ignited around 11:25 AM on Sunday, also claimed the lives of numerous birds, insects, and other wildlife, severely impacting years of conservation efforts in the riverine ecosystem.

Mulai Kathoni 2.0 was established under the guidance of Munmuni Payeng, the daughter of Jadav Payeng, who is renowned as the 'Forest Man of India' and a Padma Shri awardee.

“This forest was home to plants aged five, three, and even one year. We aimed to fulfill my father's vision of restoring greenery along the banks of the Brahmaputra. Sadly, over 5,000 plants, along with various wildlife, have been lost,” Munmuni stated, suggesting that the fire was intentionally set by vandals.

Initial reports indicate that the fire spread quickly across the riverine landscape, fueled by dry vegetation, consuming both young saplings and mature trees that had been planted over the past three years as part of ongoing restoration efforts.

Upon learning of the fire, Munmuni rushed to the scene and led rescue and firefighting operations alongside volunteers and students.

Despite their relentless efforts to control the fire, large areas of the regenerated forest were left in ruins.

“I was informed that a fire had been set at Mulai Kathoni 2.0 near the Baghmara eco-camp. Without hesitation, nine of us took a machine boat to the site. A group of 30 students from Titabar, who were scheduled to visit the forest, also joined our efforts,” Munmuni recounted.

She described the intensity of the fire, stating that the situation initially seemed daunting. “It was a massive blaze. At first, we were uncertain if we could extinguish it. We had to cross a nearly 100-meter-wide river. Once we arrived, we immediately began fighting the fire using shrubs and branches until we managed to bring it under control,” she added.

Launched in 2022, Mulai Kathoni 2.0 was inspired by Jadav Payeng's decades-long work transforming a barren sandbar into the thriving Mulai Kathoni forest.

Following the incident, the Majuli district administration and the Forest Department reached out to assess the damage.

Munmuni mentioned that senior officials, including Forest Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary, contacted her later that day.

“The administration and forest department reached out to us via phone. In the evening, the Forest Minister himself called to inquire about the extent of the damage. We plan to revisit the site for a detailed assessment,” she said.

As of now, the administration has not released an official statement regarding the incident, and further updates are anticipated.