Mumbai: A fire broke out in Aarey milk colony near Veterinary College behind BMC school on Tuesday evening. This is the third fire incident in Aarey colony in two weeks. The fire started at around 6 pm and doused 9.15 pm. The blaze was confined to the shrubs and trees. No injuries reported, the fire brigade said.

However, the incidents of repeated fires in the eco sensitive area of Aarey colony has once again raised questions. The local activists said that the fire are deliberately ignited to deter leopards coming close to the human settlements. The Aarey is adjacent to Sanjay Gandhi National Park and the locality has witnessed leopards visiting the human settlements several times.

Enviornment activist Sandeep Athalye said, "The incidents of deliberate fires inside Aarey are increasing day by day. No one of allowed to enter the eco sensitive zone, however people continue to enter."