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.
उत्तराखण्ड सदन, नई दिल्ली में वनाग्नि की रोकथाम हेतु किए जा रहे कार्यों की समीक्षा करते हुए वर्चुअल रुप से जुड़े उच्चाधिकारियों को जल्द से जल्द वनाग्नि पर पूरी तरह नियंत्रण पाने के साथ ही सभी वन प्रभागों के लिए नोडल अधिकारी नियुक्त कर जिम्मेदारी सुनिश्चित करने के निर्देश दिए। DFO… pic.twitter.com/SkjNHHvf5v
— Pushkar Singh Dhami (Modi Ka Parivar) (@pushkardhami) May 4, 2024
