In a devastating turn of events, Himachal Pradesh grapples with a surge in forest fires, with 116 incidents reported in the past 24 hours alone. According to the Fire Department, these fires have ravaged approximately 1,582.6 hectares of forest land, adding to the staggering toll of 4,874.9 hectares destroyed since April 1. The latest data from the Forest Department pinpoints Dharamshala Circle as the hardest-hit area, recording 29 fire incidents from Sunday evening to Monday evening. Other affected regions include Bilaspur Circle with 17 fires, Hamirpur with 22, Mandi with 16, Nahan with 10, Solan with 12, and both Rampur and Shimla each reporting 1 incident. Chamba reported 3 fire incidents. Solan Circle suffers the most significant loss with 374.5 hectares of forest land destroyed, followed by Bilaspur with 302 hectares, Mandi with 331.25 hectares, Nahan with 212.3 hectares, and Hamirpur with 211 hectares. Dharamshala witnessed the loss of 120.55 hectares, while Chamba and Shimla each lost 3.5 hectares. Rampur reported the smallest loss with 2 hectares affected.
Comparing data from the previous year, the Forest Department notes a stark contrast. In 2023-24, only 99 forest fires were reported during the summer season, a significant decrease from the 765 incidents recorded in 2022-23. Despite the ongoing efforts, two forest fires have already been reported today. The forest fire season, spanning from April 15th to July 15th annually, has seen a distressing rise in incidents attributed to a prolonged dry spell this year. While the previous year benefited from regular downpours, the current dry conditions have exacerbated the situation. This alarming escalation underscores the pressing need for bolstered preventive measures and effective firefighting strategies to safeguard the state’s forests and mitigate environmental damage. It also underscores the necessity for better preparedness among stakeholder departments.
