Chintamani: More than 300 sandalwood trees and around 800 bamboo plants were destroyed in a fire that broke out on a farm at Chowdadenahalli village of Chintamani taluk in Chikkaballapura district.The affected 1.35-acre plot belongs to Ramesh, a progressive farmer, who has alleged foul play behind the incident. According to his complaint filed on April 4, Chintamani Rural police have registered an FIR and initiated an investigation.Ramesh said he had originally planted around 500 sandalwood trees and 1,000 bamboo plants across nearly two acres, with fencing made of American aloe—all of which were gutted in the blaze. The sandalwood trees were about six years old.He estimated the losses at over Rs 75 lakh, noting that the plantation had been carefully nurtured over the past six years.
