ISLAMABAD: The initial investigation has revealed that the fire on the Shahdarah area of Margalla Hills was caused by unknown individuals burning a dead body to conceal their crime. On May 31, a burnt body of an unidentified person was discovered at the M-4 location in Shahdarah.

The fire subsequently spread to the forests of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Firefighters reported the recovery of the dead body to the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and Islamabad police.

Earlier in the day, authorities battled another fire on Margalla Hills only a day after the flames engulfed two separate locations on the hilly range as the country grappled with hot and dry weather.

Deputy Commissioner Islamabad Irfan Memon said the authorities doused the fire that erupted again on the Margalla Hills part located in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa earlier today.

He said the Capital Development Authority (CDA) teams were present on the site to control the fire and added that 36 firefighters participated in the firefighting operation.

The deputy commissioner said authorities established a firewall to stop the flames from entering the federal city.

The Islamabad administration undertook joint efforts with the KP government to contain the flames, he added.

The Margalla range, part of the Himalayan foothills, has experienced bushfires relatively often in the summer months.

However, three suspects were arrested on suspicion of igniting the forest fires, the capital’s administration said on Friday.