45 forest fires reach Uttarakhand center in 24 hours

With 1,000 incidents of wildfires in the last six months, including 45 in the last 24 hours, Uttarakhand Sunday reached the center for helicopters and personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) as Chief Tirath Singh Rawat. Held an emergency meeting of state government officials. Union Home Minister Amit Shah posted on Twitter that he has been briefed about the situation by Rawat and issued instructions to send the necessary equipment and personnel. In the emergency meeting, Rawat directed the forest officials and district officials not to give regular leave to their employees until the situation was brought under control.

According to the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), more than 12,000 forest personnel have been deployed for fire fighting. Data from the forest department shows that 1,359 hectares of forest fires since October 1, 2020, There have been 028 incidents – after rains – mainly in Nainital, Almora, Tehri Garhwal and Pauri Garhwal districts. At least five people and seven animals are reported to have been killed in these fires. Speaking to The Indian Express, a senior official described the situation as “dangerous” as the “peak time” for forest fires is not yet in place. The third week of May is when the temperature is highest. But this year, it has started from the first week of April. The Meteorological Department has predicted rain on 6 and 7 April.

This may provide some relief. But further dry spells will worsen the situation. “Dryness in the atmosphere, The situation is worrisome due to high temperature and wind velocity. There have been many fires in the state. We have upgraded the fire protection system to the highest level. Officers have been asked to camp at the headquarters and senior officials have been assigned to the districts to monitor and review the situation, ”said Rajiv Bhartari, Chief of Forest Force (HoFF), Uttarakhand.

The incidents explained in the period. Officials reported that only 135 accidents occurred during the peak forest fire period from February to June last year, affecting 172 hectares. The number before the years is significant: 2,981 hectares (2019), 4,480 hectares (2018), 1,228 hectares (2017), 4,433 hectares (2016) and 701 hectares (2015). The Chief Minister blamed “intentional” acts by “mischievous elements” for these fires, However, officials said that burning of crop residues in the fields could also be a factor. “It has been observed that most of the incidents are triggered by unwanted elements. It is a punishable offense… people should inform the police about such elements, ”DGP Ashok Kumar said in a video message that 278 incidents were reported in March alone. Officials said two people died in separate incidents in January and two others died on 12 February. .