Results for: Forest Fires

The Supreme Court has strongly criticized the Uttarakhand government for its lack of preventive measures in tackling the ongoing forest fires in the state. The court emphasized that cloud seeding or relying on divine intervention is not a solution to the problem and urged the authorities to take proactive steps to address the issue. The Uttarakhand government informed the court that 0.1% of the state’s forest cover had been affected by the fires, which have claimed five lives since November 2022. The court was also informed that 388 criminal cases had been registered in connection with the fires and 60 people had been named in those cases.

Uttarakhand has been battling relentless forest fires, resulting in the tragic death of a 65-year-old woman who sustained burn injuries while attempting to extinguish a blaze near her farm in Pauri tehsil. This marks the fifth fatality attributed to wildfires in the past three days. In response to this escalating crisis, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has called for a statewide ban on fodder burning and solid waste incineration in forests and surrounding areas for a week, with strict enforcement by District Magistrates. Additionally, flight operations at Pithoragarh’s Naini-Saini airport have been suspended due to limited visibility caused by smoke and haze. The Meteorological Center in Dehradun predicts rainfall in the state from May 7-8, potentially mitigating the severity of the fires.

A massive wildfire has erupted in Nainital, Uttarakhand, posing a grave threat to the High Court Colony and nearby military installations. Boating on Naini Lake has been halted as authorities battle to contain the blaze. In a swift response, the Nainital administration has deployed a specialized team of firefighters and enlisted the support of forest department workers and military forces. Helicopters stand ready to provide aerial assistance should the situation deteriorate. Originating near the district headquarters, the wildfire has now reached the residential area of High Court Colony, endangering homes and disrupting traffic. Amidst growing concerns that the fire could spread to critical military facilities, the Nainital administration has suspended boating on Naini Lake as a precautionary measure.

Uttarakhand has faced a significant number of forest fires this year, with 477 incidents reported as of now. The fires have ravaged over 379.4 hectares of forest land, predominantly in the Kumaon region. Authorities are monitoring satellite alerts and implementing swift action to combat the blazes. Forest fires have become an annual occurrence in Uttarakhand, primarily during the mid-February to mid-June period, due to soaring temperatures and dry vegetation.