Uttarakhand forest fires claim fourth life, disrupt helicopter service and flight arrivals

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Raging fires have wreaked havoc in several forest ranges of Uttarakhand, leading to the loss of lives and disruption of essential services. A 28-year-old woman became the latest victim, marking the fourth casualty in the past three days. This unfortunate incident coincides with the suspension of the Adi Kailash helicopter darshan service for the second consecutive day. Additionally, flight arrivals at the Naini-Saini airport in Pithoragarh have been halted due to poor visibility caused by the fire-induced haze.

The situation turned dire for pilgrims at the Dunagiri temple in the Almora district. A fire broke out, forcing pilgrims to flee as flames engulfed the passage to the shrine, which is adorned with bells. Videos captured the chaotic scene as pilgrims scrambled for safety, with flames seemingly in pursuit. Forest officials attributed the rapid spread of the fire to strong winds, which transformed it into a "crown fire." Fortunately, prompt action by priests and the forest department ensured the safe evacuation of pilgrims, preventing any casualties.

Locals have expressed grave concerns over the fires, noting that ash dust covers everything, making breathing difficult. Reports of rockfalls and landslides along the road from Haldwani have also surfaced, further exacerbating the situation. Residents of Mukteshwar described the scenes as apocalyptic, with hills ablaze at night and thick smoke obscuring visibility during the day.

The wildfires have also impacted agricultural activities, with a large kiwi orchard in Chamoli district being engulfed by the blaze. Forest fires have been reported in hilltops across the Garhwal region, including Rudraprayag and Chamoli. Since November 1 last year, a staggering 910 forest fire incidents have been recorded in Uttarakhand, destroying over 1,144 hectares of forest land. The fires have been raging for nearly six months, reminiscent of the devastating California wildfires.

Tragically, the fires have claimed the lives of five individuals, including a 28-year-old woman of Nepalese origin named Puja. She sustained severe injuries while attempting to extinguish a forest fire near a pine resin factory in Almora district and succumbed to her burns on Saturday. Her husband and two others had tragically lost their lives while battling the same fire last week.

The wildfires have also cast a shadow over tourism activities, raising concerns about the feasibility of trekking and mountaineering trips in the Kumaon region. Tourism officials are closely monitoring the situation and may issue advisories for visitors if the fires continue unabated.

Officials have attributed the forest fire incidents primarily to human activities, such as clearing grasslands for agriculture or livestock grazing. The lack of soil moisture due to scanty rainfall in the pre-monsoon season, coupled with the presence of dry leaves, pine needles, and other flammable substances in the forest, has also exacerbated the situation.

Nishant Verma, the additional chief conservator of forests and the nodal officer for forest fires in Uttarakhand, reported that in the last 24 hours alone, 24 fire incidents covering 36.5 hectares of forest land were reported, with 22 incidents from the Kumaon division alone.

The severity of the situation was highlighted last month when fires approached close to Nainital city, prompting the Indian Air Force to join firefighting operations. Forest areas in Nainital, Haldwani, and Ramnagar forest divisions were severely affected, with fires being extinguished with the assistance of Mi-17 choppers.

The Uttarakhand forest fires serve as a stark reminder of the environmental challenges posed by human activities and the urgent need for sustainable practices to protect our forests and wildlife.

(With inputs from TOI)