Uttarakhand Forests Engulfed in Summer Wildfires
Air Force Deployed as Blaze Spreads Across 689.89 Hectares
Uttarakhand's forests are ablaze as summer begins, with wildfires spreading across 689.89 hectares. Despite efforts by the forest department and fire brigade, the Air Force has been called in to control the escalating fires. The blaze has affected areas from Kumaon to Garhwal, shrouding the mountains in smoke.
As summer sets in, Uttarakhand's forests are facing a severe wildfire outbreak, with the fire spreading rapidly across the region. Efforts to contain the blaze by the forest department and fire brigade have been challenged by strong winds, leading to the deployment of the Air Force to assist in firefighting efforts.
The wildfires have engulfed large swathes of forest land, with an estimated 689.89 hectares already affected. The situation is particularly dire from Kumaon to Garhwal, where mountains are veiled in smoke, creating challenging conditions for firefighting operations.
In the past 24 hours, there have been 26 incidents of forest fires and five incidents of wildfires in Kumaon alone, affecting 33.34 hectares of forest. Tragically, two individuals have been injured, and there has been a financial loss of Rs 39,440 due to the fires.
According to Additional Chief Forest Conservator Nishant Verma, since November 1, 2023, there have been 575 incidents of forest fires, affecting 689.89 hectares of forest land. The economic toll stands at Rs 14,41,771, with 211 incidents in Garhwal, 313 in Kumaon, and 51 in wildlife areas. The Forest Department is working tirelessly to combat the wildfires and minimize further damage.
Efforts are underway to control the fires, including the use of helicopters to douse the flames with water extracted from Naini Lake and Bhimtal Lake. This has led to the closure of boating activities in Nainital Lake. However, the fires have caused significant disruption, with smoke hindering visibility and causing breathing difficulties, particularly in the Ladiyakantha forest area in Nainital.
