Wildfire rages through swathes of Uttarakhand

NAINITAL: Massive forest fires have broken out in the jungles of Almora and Nainital districts in the past 12 hours. In Nainital, wildfires have been raging in Bhimtal, Sattal and Devidhura areas; flames raging in inflammable pine jungles on Bhowali Road in the district have left environmentalists particularly worried. The state capital, too, has witnessed around 32 cases of forest fires in the last 11 days.
A total of 189.25 hectares of forest area was lost in Almora district which witnessed 76 fire incidents while 168.28 hectares of forests were gutted in Nainital, which saw the highest number of 170 wildfire incidents. The state has been witness to 595 fire incidents till May 12. Of these, Tehri Garhwal saw 70 fire incidents, Champawat (60), Pauri Garhwal (68), Dehradun (34), Pithoragarh (27), Rudraprayag (26), Bageshwar (20), Chamoli (15), Haridwar (13), Uttarkashi (12), and Udham Singh Nagar (4). Environmentalists say most of the wildfires are entirely man-made.
Vishal Singh, executive director, Dehradun-based CEDAR (Centre for Ecology Development and Research), told TOI, “Wildfires in the Western Himalayan region are almost entirely manmade. Villagers and forest officials set land on fire to burn agricultural residue and for controlled burning of pine needles to encourage grass and fodder growth.” “The real problem arrives when such fires get out of hand,” Singh added. Meanwhile, the local residents have alleged that miscreants are putting the jungles on fire.