Rain brings relief from forest fire

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, May 3

The total number of forest fire incidents has touched 1,591-mark affecting a total of 3,466 hectares of forest area.

However, there seems some respite for Uttarakhand vis-à-vis forest fires. While the authorities concerned managed to douse forest fires in 95 of the 121 incidents, rain in Pithoragarh and Uttarkashi districts brought down the mercury in the region.

A total of 11,160 state employees were involved in fire-fighting operations in the state. Additional Chief Secretary S Ramaswamy said fire was raging at 26 places in the state. The number was 40 on Monday and 170 on Sunday.

He said besides state government employees, National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) and state disaster relief force personnel were engaged round the clock to douse forest fires. He said as many as 46 cases linked to man-triggered forest fires had been registered.

He said MI 17 helicopters participated in fire-fighting operations. Ten flights from Nainital and six from Pauri helped to douse forest fires.

According to the Dehradun Met office, rainfall will continue in the state on May 4 and 5. Meanwhile, heavy rain lashed Uttarakashi in Garhwal region and Mukteshwar and Munshiyari regions of Kumaon today.

Rudraprayag continued to rage under forest fire. Rudraprayag has broken all forest fire records for the past four years. A total of 45 forest fire incidents have taken place in Rudraprayag affecting 97.20 hectares of forest area.

BSNL services remain disrupted in Chamoli as a fibre cable got burnt by fire.