A fire broke out in Chilika Lake, situated in Khordha district of Odisha, India, and was successfully extinguished after extensive efforts by wildlife and fire service teams. The blaze, which spread through dry Phragmites patches known as Nala grass, raised concerns among officials who suspect it may have been set by miscreants. Amlan Nayak, the Divisional Forest Officer of the Chilika Wildlife Division, noted that such incidents are not uncommon due to the area's dry vegetation and human activities. The wildlife teams maintain constant surveillance to quickly respond to fire incidents, especially since these patches serve as vital habitats for various species, including fishing cats and nesting birds. Fortunately, no animals were harmed, and drone monitoring post-incident confirmed that damage was limited to burnt grass, with no major ecological impact reported.