ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Uttarakhand in Flames: CM Dhami Convenes Urgent Meeting as Forest Fires Claim Lives

Forest fires have erupted in 64 locations across Uttarakhand within a span of 24 hours, resulting in two fatalities
Indian Masterminds Stories

Amidst a surge in forest fire incidents in Uttarakhand, CM Pushkar Singh Dhami chaired a crucial session to discuss the escalating situation. Participating in the virtual conference from Delhi, the Chief Minister meticulously scrutinized the Forest Department’s action plan.

Notable government officials from the Dehradun Secretariat were also in attendance, receiving imperative directives from CM Dhami.

It is noteworthy that Uttarakhand is grappling with a fiery crisis as forest fires rage across Nanital, Almora, Jageshwar. Breaking records from previous years, over 1000 hectares of precious woodland have already been devoured by the flames which has been continuing for the past six months but assumed alarming proportions in the past few weeks, especially in the Kumaon region.

The situation exacerbated on Friday as Uttarakhand witnessed a surge in forest infernos, with 64 incidents reported within a day.

Among the distressing outcomes, a forest blaze in Syunrakot, Someshwar, inflicted severe losses on two Nepalese families. Tragically, one worker succumbed on-site during Thursday’s blaze, while another passed away at Base Hospital later that night. Additionally, a female worker lost her life at Sushila Tiwari Hospital (STH) in Haldwani, with another female worker currently receiving treatment in the same facility.

In response to these dire circumstances, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami promptly convened a high-level meeting on Saturday to address forest fire prevention measures.

CM Dhami said, “During the review of the forest fire prevention efforts in Uttarakhand Sadan, New Delhi, instructions were issued to senior officials connected virtually to ensure swift and complete control over forest fires and to assign nodal officers for all forest divisions.”

“District Forest Officers (DFO) and other officials are expected to be on the ground rather than managing fires from their desks. Additionally, officials were urged to earnestly implement the Shitalakhet model or other effective strategies for long-term control of forest fires. It was emphasized that fire watchers must be insured, and strict actions should be taken against individuals involved in forest fire incidents,” he added.

Of the 64 forest fire incidents reported on Friday, 30 occurred in Garhwal, 29 in Kumaon division, and five in wildlife sanctuaries.

Within the 24-hour timeframe, approximately 74.67 hectares of forest land fell victim to the ravaging flames. Due to the raging fires, water sources in jungles are drying up, too, as a result of which, big cats are moving towards settlements, increasing the risk of human-animal conflict.

Efforts to combat the wildfires have yielded mixed results, showcasing the formidable challenge facing Nainital district. On Friday, seven separate incidents ignited across the region, amplifying the urgency for intervention. Teams comprising personnel and local villagers labored tirelessly, battling the blazes that ravaged various areas.


Indian Masterminds Stories

Related Stories

News

Govt
New District In-Charge Secretaries Named to Oversee Development in Uttarakhand; Check Names
pseb1
PESB Finds No Suitable Candidate for HPCL's CMD Post
IAS Officers New Image
Haryana: IAS Ashima Brar Takes Charge of Karnal District, Extends Oversight to Key Areas
Karnataka-govt-announces-state-wide-close-down-for-14-days
Karnataka: 5 IAS Officers Transferred, Harsh Gupta Appointed As PS, Health & Family Welfare Dept
Chandigarh UT Resized
Chandigarh UT Is In Dilemma As Top Bureaucrats Near Tenure End
West bengal Government WB
WB: 13 IAS Probationers Get Posting Orders As Assistant Magistrates & Collectors Across The State
Ministry of Coal (resized)
"10th Round Of Commercial Coal Block Auctions To Launch Next Week," Says Coal Minister G Kishan Reddy
IES
IES Manuj Singhal Appointed Director (Infra), Delhi Metro Rail Corporation

Videos

Hemant Pareek
Listening to Toppers Can Help Shape Your Own Strategy, Says Hemant Pareek
IMG-20240611-WA0018
Crack UPSC CSE Prelims 2024: Exclusive Tips from IFS Officer Yash Kale
WhatsApp Image 2024-06-10 at 4.18
Navneet Anand's Strategic Preparation Leads to UPSC CSE Success | Video Interview
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
Latest
Govt
New District In-Charge Secretaries Named to Oversee Development in Uttarakhand; Check Names
Vinod-Kumar-Meena-AIR-798
From Rural Rajasthan to UPSC Triumph: The 7-Year Journey of Vinod Kumar Meena
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Videos
Hemant Pareek
IMG-20240611-WA0018
WhatsApp Image 2024-06-10 at 4.18
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT