By Arun Pratap SinghGarhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 21 May: Forests across Uttarakhand are once again in the grip of devastating fires, with flames and thick smoke replacing the greenery and cool breeze for which the hill State is known. Since the beginning of the fire season on February 15, incidents of forest fires have risen sharply across the State, affecting large stretches of forests from Garhwal to Kumaon and posing a serious challenge to the Forest Department and disaster management agencies.
According to the official data of the Forest Department, over 300 incidents of forest fire have been recorded so far in the state, resulting in damage to more than 239.47 hectares of forest area. Both the Forest Department and the Meteorological Department have described this year’s fire season as extremely sensitive. Rising temperatures, prolonged dry weather and lack of rainfall have turned forest vegetation highly inflammable, increasing the intensity and spread of fires.
The worst-hit areas this season are in the Garhwal region, where forests in Pauri, Tehri, Rudraprayag, Chamoli and Uttarkashi districts have repeatedly come under the grip of fire. In several places, long lines of flames have been visible across hillsides during the night, while smoke from burning forests has started reaching nearby residential areas, causing concern among local residents.
The forest officials said that in many locations in Garhwal, the fire spread so rapidly that teams required several hours to bring the situation under control. Difficult mountainous terrain and inaccessible routes have added to the challenges faced by firefighting teams. In many areas, forest personnel have been forced to walk for hours through rugged terrain to reach affected locations. According to departmental figures, the worst-affected forest divisions include Garhwal, Pithoragarh, Badrinath, Kalsi and Rudraprayag, where several hectares of forest land have already been destroyed.
Forest Minister Subodh Uniyal has commented that the impact of climate change is clearly visible in the state, though he maintained that incidents of forest fire have comparatively reduced due to continuous efforts made over the past four years. He said committees have been constituted under the leadership of the District Magistrates, while Forest Fire Management Committees under village pradhans and senior Forest Department officers appointed as nodal officers in districts have helped strengthen coordination and discipline among field staff.
Uniyal further said that forest fire watchers had been provided insurance cover of Rs 10 lakhs and equipped with fire suits, fire jackets and firefighting equipment, which has boosted the morale of personnel engaged in tackling forest fires. He expressed confidence that the department would succeed in controlling incidents this year as well, similar to the previous season.
The prevailing weather conditions have emerged as one of the biggest reasons behind the worsening situation. According to the Meteorological Department, most parts of Uttarakhand have not received rainfall for several days. Intense sunlight and hot winds have dried up moisture in forests, creating ideal conditions for fires to spread rapidly.
Forest fires during the summer season are not new to Uttarakhand, but the scale and frequency of incidents have been increasing every year. Experts point out that both natural and human factors are responsible. Large parts of the State are covered with chir pine forests, and resin produced by pine trees is highly inflammable. During summers, dry pine needles and forest litter help fires spread quickly across large areas.
Human negligence has also emerged as a major cause of forest fires. People travelling through forest areas often throw burning matchsticks, cigarette butts or bidis, triggering fires. In some cases, villagers intentionally set fire to forest areas to encourage the growth of fresh grass around the forests, but such fires frequently spiral out of control and spread over large stretches of forest land.
Forest officials said climate change has now become a major factor contributing to the increase in forest fire incidents. Delay in rainfall has reduced moisture levels in forests, while rising temperatures are causing fires to spread at a much faster pace.
Apart from the 239.47 hectares of forest area already destroyed, nearly 3.5 hectares of plantation area has also been affected during the ongoing fire season. Officials said thousands of newly planted saplings had been reduced to ashes in several places. A major fire in the Narayanbagad area of Chamoli district has particularly increased concern within the department. Forests under the Western Pindar Range and Badrinath Forest Division continued to burn for two consecutive days, destroying thousands of small plants and saplings.
Officials said strong winds and extremely hot weather conditions are making firefighting operations increasingly difficult. Forest teams continue to remain deployed in affected areas and are engaged in controlling fresh outbreaks. Forest Range Officer Akhilesh said that fires had currently been extinguished in the affected areas and all personnel had been deployed at sensitive locations to prevent further spread.
A video from Ranikhet highlighting the difficult conditions faced by firefighting teams has also gone viral on social media. The footage showed Forest Department and fire service personnel battling flames throughout the night in inaccessible mountainous terrain. In several locations where roads and vehicle access were unavailable, personnel had to use tree branches to beat back flames. Dense forests, darkness and uneven terrain have emerged as major challenges during relief and firefighting operations. In many cases, personnel have been risking their lives as fires spread rapidly through dry forests.
The situation has become particularly alarming in Pauri and Chamoli districts. Massive forest fires have been reported near Buakhal and along the Pauri-Devprayag motor road, where flames have spread from roadside forests to higher hill slopes. Thick smoke has engulfed large areas. Similarly, forests in several villages of Chamoli district, including Kaub, Leguna, Keshpur, Chhaikuda and Nalgaon, have also come under the grip of fire.
Forest Department teams have been making continuous efforts to control the fires after hours of strenuous operations. Wildlife has also been severely affected, with wild animals increasingly moving towards human habitations in search of water and safer shelter, thereby raising the risk of human-animal conflict.
In view of the rising incidents, the Forest Department has issued a high alert across the state. Around 1,438 forest fire stations have been activated and nearly 5,600 forest fire volunteers deployed for firefighting duties. Around 40 master fire control rooms have also been established across Uttarakhand for continuous monitoring and rapid response. The department claimed that teams were being rushed immediately to every reported location.
Chief Conservator of Forests and Disaster Management Nodal Officer Sushant Patnaik said the entire department was continuously engaged in controlling forest fires and special focus was being given to areas where flames were approaching populated regions.
Environmental experts have warned that if rainfall does not occur over the next few days, forest fires in Uttarakhand could take an even more dangerous turn. Temperatures continue to rise while moisture levels in forests have almost disappeared completely. Experts stressed that forest fires are not merely a problem confined to forests but also have a direct impact on wildlife, the environment, water sources and public health. Massive amounts of smoke released into the atmosphere are increasing pollution levels and adversely affecting the fragile ecological balance of the Himalayan region.
About The Author
