Forest fires continue to pose a significant threat to Maharashtra's ecosystems, particularly in the eastern regions of the state, despite various measures and technological interventions, a senior forest department official confirmed on Sunday, reported news agency PTI.

Earlier, Forest Minister Ganesh Naik had informed the legislature that between January 1 and April 15 this year, 204 forest fire incidents were reported from diverse forest areas across several districts. Naik further stated that most of these fires were attributable to human negligence or natural factors. "Although no wildlife deaths have been reported during these incidents, the recurrence of fires remains a concern," he had said.

The official detailed that the Forest Department has undertaken multiple steps, including issuing fire prevention guidelines, training personnel, and deploying firefighting equipment.