MP tourist dies in Udaipur forest fire:Ratlam native, out on a solo walk, succumbs to injures after fire engulfs the hill

A tourist trapped in a forest fire in Udaipur died on Tuesday morning, while nearly three hectares of the Bahubali Hill forest area were destroyed in the blaze that broke out on Monday night. According to the Fire Brigade Department, the fire was brought under control late at night. Even after the flames were extinguished, fire brigade teams remained deployed around the forest area throughout the night as a precaution. Rescue workers said the victim was found unconscious in bushes amid heavy smoke. Got trapped in fire, called for rescue According to officials, the deceased has been identified as Makhan Singh (33), a tourist from Ratlam in Madhya Pradesh. He had reportedly gone alone to Bahubali Hill for a night walk when the fire broke out. When the flames began spreading rapidly, Singh got trapped in the middle of the fire. He called the emergency helpline to inform authorities about the blaze and seek help. However, by the time rescue teams reached the spot, he had already fallen unconscious due to the thick smoke. He was rushed to Maharana Bhupal (MB) Hospital in an unconscious condition, where doctors declared him dead at around 7 am on Tuesday. Officials said the fire spread suddenly and quickly engulfed the hill. Within minutes, the entire area was covered in dense black smoke, making rescue operations difficult. Death due to suffocation MB Hospital Superintendent Dr RL Suman said the primary cause of death appears to be suffocation due to smoke inhalation. “The exact cause will be confirmed only after the post-mortem report. Other factors may also come to light,” he said. Meanwhile, Fire Brigade officer BL Chaudhary said the blaze was extremely intense and thick smoke covered the entire hill. “Nearly half a kilometre of forest area was completely burned in the fire. The flames were brought under control by around midnight, but teams remained deployed in the area throughout the night to prevent any flare-up,” he said. Young man had a private job Makhan Singh was a resident of Uparwada village in Jawara tehsil of Ratlam district. Village sarpanch Kamlesh Patidar said Singh had left home saying he was going for a walk. He worked as a manager at a harvester showroom. Singh is survived by his wife and three children.