Satellite images show fires along Nilgiri, Agastyarkoodam; grasslands in Upper Sanatorium area and Kambimoodu destroyed Fires also broke out in Mannarkkad forest range near Silent Valley on Saturday Hot winds blowing from Tamil Nadu have caused the temperatures to rise THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Forest fires have broken out at several parts of the State including the buffer zone of the Silent Valley National Park. Fires were reported along the Western Ghats, including the Nilgiri Biosphere and Agastyarkoodam Biosphere reserves on Saturday and Sunday. Satellite imagery for the past 24 hours showed several fires at the confluences of the boundaries of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka near Muthanga in Wayanad district. Fires broke out at Mannarkkad forest range near Silent Valley on Saturday, from Kelallur and Uppukantam on Sunday besides Mukkali a few days ago. Blazes put out Assistant Wildlife Warden of Silent Valley National Park Balan Nagaraj said that the fires had been put out. In Thiruvananthapuram district, more than ten hectares of grasslands in the Upper Sanatorium area and Kambimoodu at Ponmudi have been destroyed. It is alleged that the area was deliberately set afire. Part of institute land One of the ravaged areas is part of the forested hill earmarked to be handed over to the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology. Fires had also broken out at Ponmudi forests last year also. Forest Minister Benoy Viswom had visited the area and promised action to prevent them in future. However, they proved to be ineffective though measures were taken to involve local committees in fire-fighting. At some places, fire watchers exist only on paper. In Mannarkkad and other areas of Palakkad district, hot winds from Tamil Nadu have caused the temperatures to rise. Areas burnt Areas burnt in the district include private plantations. Fires have occurred in Thrissur district also.