Uttarakhand is grappling with forest fires, aided by the Indian Air Force, while officials crack down on suspects and cancel leaves. The fires persist in the Kumaon region, with eight new blazes reported recently, as per the forest department’s bulletin. An Indian Air Force helicopter continues firefighting efforts, helping contain the blaze in multiple areas.
To combat the situation, the government cancels leaves for all forest department officials and initiates legal action against 196 suspects. The Kumaon region, particularly affected, witnesses fires in various districts, including Nainital, Champawat, Almora, Pithoragarh, and Bageshwar. Notably, fires near the High Court Colony and Air Force base prompted the deployment of an IAF helicopter.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami underscores the government’s commitment to tackling the crisis, urging coordinated efforts among officials, fire stations, and local communities. Prasanna Kumar Patro, Kumaon’s chief conservator of forest, assures ongoing efforts to control the flames, attributing the surge in fires to dry weather conditions.
Experts link the spike in fires to a lack of winter precipitation and below-average spring rains. Efforts intensify to extinguish fires and prevent further outbreaks, with involvement from the IAF, Army, volunteers, and homeguard personnel. Additional resources, including government vehicles, are allocated to expedite firefighting operations.
Forest department personnel’s leave is suspended until the situation improves, with exceptions for medical emergencies. The IAF’s Mi-17 V5 helicopter aids in firefighting by collecting water from Bhimtal lake and dousing the flames with a 5,000-liter Bambi bucket. Local involvement, including forest panchayat officials and community members, remains crucial in responding to forest fires promptly.
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