Dr. Shikha Mishra
Forest Fire Crisis Deepens in Uttarakhand as Flames Reach High Himalayan Divisions
Dehradun: Rising forest fire incidents in Uttarakhand have triggered serious concern among forest officials as flames continue to spread across several environmentally sensitive regions, including high Himalayan forest divisions. According to official data, 337 incidents of forest fire have been reported in the state since February 15, with 276 cases recorded in ten major high-altitude forest divisions, including Badrinath, Rudraprayag, Kedarnath, Pithoragarh and Alaknanda.
Forest officials said the increasing intensity of fires in upper Himalayan regions has become a major challenge this year. Chief Conservator of Forests (Forest Fire and Disaster Management) Sushant Patnaik stated that most fire incidents are occurring in areas dominated by chir pine forests, where thick layers of dry pine needles (pirul) have accumulated. To tackle the situation, the Forest Department has intensified pirul collection drives and strengthened fire prevention measures.
Authorities have also instructed forest divisions to seek assistance from the National Disaster Response Force, State Disaster Response Force, the Army and paramilitary forces for firefighting operations after sunset, when controlling flames becomes more difficult in mountainous terrain.
Meanwhile, the Forest Department has intensified drone surveillance to identify those responsible for deliberately setting forests on fire. In a major breakthrough, a man was arrested in Rudraprayag for allegedly setting fire to forest land in the Taila forest area under Jakholi range. Officials said the accused was identified through drone monitoring during an early morning surveillance operation.
Forest officials revealed that the accused, Trilok Singh Jagwan, a resident of Pandrola Kumdi village in Jakholi tehsil, was caught on camera igniting the forest area. A forest offence case has been registered against him. Separate FIRs related to forest fire incidents have also been lodged in Almora.
The rising number of fires has once again highlighted the fragile ecological condition of Uttarakhand’s forests and the urgent need for stricter monitoring, public awareness and preventive action during the summer season.
