Shimla, May 21(Reporter) A mock drill conducted by the Forest Department to train staff in fire-fighting techniques went terribly wrong in the Bhingu forest under the Ghumarvi range, as the fire lit for practice engulfed a plantation spread across two bighas. Villagers claimed that nearly 1,000 pomegranate and teak plants, raised under the JICA-funded biodiversity conservation project, were destroyed in the blaze. The plantation, nurtured over the last four years by forest lovers of the village, was part of a Palmarosa grass cultivation project meant to generate income through the extraction of aromatic oils. Villagers allege that nearly Rs 25 lakh had been spent on the initiative so far, and the mock drill has now rendered it useless. Former JICA committee head Rajesh Sharma, along with Joginder Singh, Sitaram, Ramesh Chandra, Manoj Kumar and others, blamed departmental negligence for the damage. They demanded a high-level probe into the incident, criticizing the department for wasting resources in the name of mock drills that yield no real results. Officials including Forest Range Officer Hansraj and Section Officer Deshraj maintained that the drill was conducted as per standard procedures and claimed that only one bigha of open area without trees was designated for the exercise. However, the fire reportedly spread beyond control, aided by dry undergrowth. The villagers also pointed out the irony that in a summer marked by multiple rain spells and fewer forest fires, it was the government machinery itself that caused preventable destruction. The mock drill, which included participation from NDRF, Jal Shakti, and Fire Department personnel, has raised serious questions about preparedness and accountability in fire management. Locals have urged the state government to hold those responsible accountable and ensure such mishaps are not repeated...////...