The state of Uttarakhand has witnessed a concerning number of forest fire incidents this year, with a total of 477 reported thus far. These fires have devastated over 379.4 hectares of precious forest land, with the Kumaon region bearing the brunt of the damage. On Monday alone, 52 forest fire incidents were reported, including 35 in the Kumaon region and 14 in the Garhwal region, leading to the destruction of 76.6 hectares of forest area.
Nishant Verma, the nodal officer for forest fires in the state forest department, attributes the increased forest fire activity to rising temperatures. He notes that the department is closely monitoring satellite alerts and conducting ground verification to ensure prompt action in response to fire outbreaks. Additionally, efforts are being made to engage communities in forest fire prevention and control measures.
Forest fires have become an annual occurrence in Uttarakhand, with the change in weather conditions and rising temperatures contributing to their prevalence. Since the state’s inception in 2000, over 54,800 hectares of forest land have been lost to forest fires. The period from mid-February to mid-June is particularly critical, as dry leaves shed from trees and soil moisture levels decline due to increasing temperatures, creating ideal conditions for forest fires.
