HYDERABAD, Feb 26: As many as 20,000 trees spread over 70 acres of Khabrani forest in Matiari district in compartment No.13-B and 14-B were completely destroyed on Monday as a fire broke out in the forest.

According to the executive director of Indus Development Organisation (IDO) Zain Daudpoto, volunteers of the forest protection committee struggled the whole night and controlled the fire from spreading any further.

District Forest Officer Syed Wasif Ali Shah has reached there and inspected the area with Daudpoto and forest protection committee volunteers.Zain Daudpoto in a statement issued here on Tuesday said that according to his estimates 20,000 trees on 70 acres of land had been destroyed.

Later, a meeting of the IDO was held on Tuesday which was also attended by a large number of villagers.

The meeting was of the opinion that some influential people were involved in the fire and wanted to occupy the forestland.

DEVELOPMENT: District Nazim of Hyderabad Kanwar Naveed Jamil has directed the engineers and contractors to complete the development work of Bacha Khan Chowk as soon as possible.