Dehra Dun: Firefighters in Uttarakhand battled forest fires for a second day on Sunday, even as they managed to extinguish blazes in some areas. The situation in the hilly state remains critical, with eight new fires erupting within the last 24 hours.
The Kumaon region, particularly Nainital district, emerged as a hotspot for forest fires, with blazes raging at two to three places in Nainital district and at one place each in Champawat, Almora, Pithoragarh and Bageshwar.
The eight new fires that erupted on Saturday evening burned 11.75 hectares, a decrease from the previous day’s 23 fires consuming 34.175 hectares. Since November 2023, 606 fires have ravaged 735.815 hectares of forest land.
The forest fires in Nainital and Pauri Garhwal in Uttarakhand were mostly man-made, as per the report from the state forest department.
Three persons were arrested in Rudraprayag district for setting fire in the forest, the forest department shared on X.
Former Uttarakhand CM and Congress leader Harish Rawat said that forest fires cannot be controlled without increasing the humidity in the forest areas. He said in 2015-16 they had come up with a comprehensive plan for the same.
Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said the government has asked for help from all the institutions including the Indian Army. “The locals are also being asked to cooperate towards dousing the fire…The responsibility of the officers found responsible in this will also be fixed,” he told media.
Experts estimate a staggering 95% of forest fires in India are started by human activities. This includes accidental causes like unattended campfires and discarded cigarettes, as well as intentional acts of arson. These fires have a devastating impact on India’s delicate ecosystems.
This alarming development has necessitated a large-scale firefighting effort, with the Indian Air Force (IAF) deploying helicopters to assist ground crews. The Kumaon region, particularly Nainital district, has become a hotspot for the fires. Here, authorities are battling blazes at multiple locations. Other affected districts include Champawat, Almora, Pithoragarh, and Bageshwar.
While firefighters gain some ground, the constant emergence of new fires paints a concerning picture. Urgent action is needed to prevent further damage to Uttarakhand’s precious forests and environment.
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