https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

How Uttarakhand Is Fighting Forest Fire

Indian Masterminds Stories

Uttarakhand, known for its breathtaking landscapes and serene beauty, is grappling with a fiery crisis as forest fires rage across its expanse. With over 814 hectares already engulfed in the infernos, surpassing last year’s alarming record, the situation has reached critical levels.

From the verdant forests of Kumaon to the majestic reaches of Garhwal, the flames spare no terrain, posing a grave threat to the region’s ecosystem and inhabitants. While the forest department of Uttarakhand is continuing its battle against these relentless fires, the NDRF and IAF have also united to support them. However, this disaster has been raising a lot of questions about the occurrence and handling of such a situation.  

For sensitisation of the local people, efforts in the form of meetings in small groups and dissemination in the local villages specially with respect to stubble burning resulting in prevention of Forest Fires.

Indian Masterminds spoke with a few officers in Uttarakhand, including the Chief Conservator of Forest (Kumaon Range), Mr. Prasana Kumar Patro, and CCF, Forest Fire and Disaster Management & Wildlife Administration (Uttarakhand), Mr. Nishant Verma, to understand the cause of these fires; what the limitations are in tackling them, and how forest staff has been taking control of the situation. 

THE REASONS 

Unlike previous years, this year, Uttarakhand didn’t have any winter rainfall. The temperature in the plain areas has also risen to 40 degrees, and this is the fall season for pine needles. “There is enough fodder and fuel for the fire to spread. As a result, when someone starts a fire anywhere, it quickly spreads and becomes uncontrollable. Every year, we take safeguards such as starting a controlled fire, but forests cover a vast territory. One cannot control all things, particularly humans,” says Mr. Nishant Verma. 

The officer emphasized that it is not a natural disaster but has become a social problem. CCF Patro elaborated on this and said there are many ways in which the current fire situation can be deemed a man-made disaster. Many farmers have their agricultural land in fringe areas or adjacent to forests. When they burn the crop residue, sometimes, due to the wind, the fire moves towards the forest and spreads. Besides this, some people purposely go to the forest and burn the fallen leaves and dry grasses so that new grass can grow, which is good for their cattle. Due to the increased cases of human-animal conflict, many incidents have been reported in Uttarakhand, where fire was lit to clear the area from lantanas or other bushes and spread to other areas. 

IT IS NOT A COMPLETELY BAD THING 

When asked about the precautions taken to control these incidents, Mr. Patro said that measures are taken beforehand, but due to the difficult terrain, it is impossible to cover the whole area with 100% protection.

He also said that forest fires are cyclic events. It happens across the country, from the USA to Australia and Russia. One needs to understand the dynamics of forest fires. “This year there is weather factor plus the availability of fuel in abundance. Pine needles are extremely flammable and catch fire easily. Due to fire this year, next year the fodder will be less, which can result in few to zero such incidents”, he said. 

The officer also pointed out that while forest fires can be dangerous, they also allow new plants and grasses to grow. 

THE DIFFICULTY 

On April 30th, when contacted by Indian Masterminds, Mr. Patro was managing 10 active fire cases. The forest department receives continuous alerts from the Forest Survey of India via satellite footage regarding fire ignition.

However, the primary challenge lies in containing the fires within a limited timeframe. “People question the delay in controlling the fires. With temperatures already soaring, the fires exacerbate the situation by raising temperatures further by 10-20 degrees. Three of our forest staff have already sustained injuries while combating the fires,” Mr. Patro added.

Moreover, Kumaon’s terrain is rugged, making access to fire sites time-consuming. While technologies like the Bambi bucket (used for water dispersal from helicopters) and fireball (a fire extinguisher) are employed in many states, they are less effective in hilly areas due to height limitations and are suited for enclosed spaces, respectively.

Nishant Verma, CCF, Forest Fire and Disaster Management (Uttarakhand)

In Uttarakhand, the forest department primarily relies on traditional methods to combat fires. Forest officials employ the Jhapa technique (using branches to beat out fires) and counterfire tactics (creating fire lines from top to bottom in flat areas) to manage the situation.

Mr. Dheeraj, DFO of JIM Corbett, stated that forest staff are working diligently within their means. The national park has only experienced a few fire incidents. With the support of the district administration, police, and NGOs, the situation remains under control, with an increase in the number of fire watchers deployed.

CREATING AWARENESS 

Many incidents have been attributed to human involvement, prompting the forest department, in coordination with the police, to make several arrests. Additionally, an awareness camp has been initiated. The forest department has been actively organizing seminars and engaging in public outreach to educate people about the dos and don’ts of preventing arson incidents. Mr. Nishant emphasized the importance of community involvement, stating that every village’s ‘Van Panchayat’ will receive incentives for maintaining a fire-free area. Furthermore, efforts are being made to raise awareness about the responsible disposal of cigarette butts. Mr. Nishant Verma stressed the severe consequences of forest fires, highlighting their destructive impact on wildlife habitat and contribution to climate change. He urged individuals to take moral responsibility for preventing such incidents.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
NCST Holds Review Meeting with NHPC
NCST Holds Review Meeting with NHPC on Implementation of Safeguards for Scheduled Tribe Employees
MP CM Collector Award Niti Aayog
Sampurnata Abhiyan: Madhya Pradesh Leads NITI Aayog Campaign; Collectors from 8 Districts Win Gold
Mohan Yadav
MP CM Mohan Yadav Pushes for Sustainable, Community-Driven Rural Water Policy; Targets 100% Tap Coverage by March 2027
Ajay Bhadoo IAS
IAS Ajay Bhadoo Gets Extended Term as DGFT - What It Means & His Career Journey
THDCIL_Receives_ABMS_Certification_for_Integrity_and_Transparency
THDC India (THDCIL) Awarded ISO 37001:2016 Anti-Bribery Certification by BIS - Details Inside
Ministry of Environment
Environment Ministry Clarifies Petrol Vehicle Tender, Cites E-Vehicle Flexibility
Bokaro Steel Plant
PESB Selects Priya Ranjan to Head Bokaro Steel Plant, SAIL’s Key Production Unit
REC Limited wins ‘Best Design Thinking Award’ at 5th Distinguished NBFC (DNA) Awards
REC Limited Bags ‘Best Design Thinking Award’ at 5th Distinguished NBFC Awards
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Dr
Resisted Flawed Schemes, Transferred Thrice In Three Months, Found Solace In Writing
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-11 at 4.48
IAS SVR Srinivas on Mumbai Trans Harbour Link, Tough Calls, and the Real Power of IAS Officers | Video Interview
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-08 at 5.25
Dharavi Redevelopment: IAS Minds Turning 100-Year-Old Slum into a Modern City | Video Interview
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
IAS Minnu P M
“Lazy, Sleepy, Yet Determined”: Minnu P M’s Honest Take on Cracking UPSC
Minnu PM, once a clerk in Kerala Police, cleared UPSC with AIR 150 after five years of struggle. Her...
IPS Ashish Tiwari
From IIT and Investment Banking to Public Service, Meet IPS Ashish Tiwari 
Ashish Tiwari, IIT graduate and former investment banker, chose public service over global finance. As...
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-12 at 7.27
First Attempt IRS, Fourth Attempt IPS: The Relentless Pursuit of Jitendra Kumar Yadav Who Cracked UPSC 3 Times
IPS Yadav is originally from Chhattisgarh. He was first selected for the IRS through UPSC and later for...
Social Media
Masahiro Hara
From Go Board to Global Use, How QR Codes Changed the World: IRAS Officer Ananth Rupanagudi Spotlights Masahiro Hara’s Vision
IRAS officer Ananth Rupanagudi shared a video on Masahiro Hara, the inventor of QR codes, highlighting...
IFS Susanta Nanda Video
A Mother’s Duty: Tigress Watches Over Cubs Splashing in Waterhole — Heartwarming Video Shared By Retd. IFS Officer Susanta Nanda
A tender wildlife video shared by Retd. IFS officer Susanta Nanda shows a tigress keeping watch over...
Mohanmala
Kaziranga Mourns: Beloved Elephant Mohanmala Passes Away After Five Decades of Service
Kaziranga National Park mourns the loss of Mohanmala, a beloved elephant who served over 50 years as...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
NCST Holds Review Meeting with NHPC
NCST Holds Review Meeting with NHPC on Implementation of Safeguards for Scheduled Tribe Employees
MP CM Collector Award Niti Aayog
Sampurnata Abhiyan: Madhya Pradesh Leads NITI Aayog Campaign; Collectors from 8 Districts Win Gold
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Dr
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-11 at 4.48
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-08 at 5.25
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT