IAF chopper deployed as forest fire gets close to Nainital homes

According to data provided by the Uttarakhand Forest Department, a total of 598 incidents of forest fires have been reported across the state in the last 6 months, affecting 724.065 hectares of land. At least two persons have been injured in the fire and an estimated loss of Rs 14.99 lakh has been reported so far. At least 23 of these incidents were reported in the last 24 hours, affecting 34 hectares of forests.

The Nainital administration has mounted a concerted effort to contain the blaze, calling upon both forest department employees and Army personnel for assistance.

#Nainital Forest Fire | A forest fire has been raging in the Nainital region for the last 36 hours with the blaze spreading to the residential High Court Colony located in the Pines area.

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— The Indian Express (@IndianExpress) April 27, 2024

“The forest fires are a major challenge for us as they are increasing continuously. We are making preparations (to control the blaze) and fulfilling all requirements for the operation. Army helicopters have also been deployed to sprinkle water. I will also hold a meeting in Haldwani to discuss this,” said Chief Minister Pushkar Dhami earlier in the day.

After an aerial survey of the damage caused by the forest fire in Nainital, Dhami said they are taking strict action against “unruly elements who set fire in the forests”. Three people were arrested in Rudraprayag on Friday while trying to set fire to forests.

Most forest fires, according to experts, are started deliberately. Some locals start fires as a traditional method of clearing land for agriculture or to promote the growth of certain types of vegetation that are useful to them. In some cases, people start fires to encourage the growth of certain types of grasses or plants that are valuable for grazing livestock.

Nainital District Magistrate Vandana Singh issued directives to various departments, including the forest, fire service, regional security forces, disaster management, district panchayat and the police, to effectively prevent the fire and promptly fulfill any resource demands.

The district administration has announced that anyone caught burning waste would face legal action under the Indian Forest Act, as directed by the Forest Department. As a preventive measure, boating activities have been prohibited in the iconic Naini Lake.

What causes forest fires?

Forest fires in India are mostly recorded between November and June. Several factors such as temperature, precipitation, vegetation, and moisture contribute to the scale and frequency of these incidents. According to the Forest Survey of India, nearly 36% of the country’s forests are prone to frequent fires. Higher fire incidents are reported in March, April and May due to ample availability of dry biomass (fuel load) following the end of winter and the ongoing summer season.