A significant area of scrub forest was consumed by a wildfire that erupted in the hilly region surrounding the Tarbela dam, as reported by local residents and police.

The exact cause of the fire remains unknown, but it is believed to have started in a small section of the hilly terrain covered mainly in scrub, quickly spreading to several kanals due to strong winds, according to Dawn reports.

The fire caused extensive damage to small shrubs and grassland in the area overlooking the Tarbela Golf Club and Garhi Maira village.

According to local journalist Fazal Karim, villagers alerted the police and rescue services; however, due to the difficult terrain, fire engines were unable to reach the affected area. As a result, residents from nearby villages had to combat the flames using traditional methods.

Villagers utilized fire beaters made from tree branches and worked tirelessly for three hours to control the rapidly spreading blaze, finally putting it out beneath the high transmission power lines.

In a separate incident, a minor boy was critically injured after being struck by a moving train near the Hattar Industrial Estate.

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Eyewitnesses reported that several boys from the Dohriyan area were playing on the train tracks when the Karachi-bound Hazara Express collided with five-year-old Mohammad Bilal, who was injured by the boarding step of one of the bogies.

He was left unconscious and was transported to Haripur Trauma Centre before being referred to Ayub Medical Complex in critical condition.

The Haripur railway station’s administration has claimed unawareness of the incident, while Rescue 1122 and local police have shared information about the injured boy on their social media platforms.