A massive forest fire sweeping through the dense foliage in the mountains of Uttarakhand, since the last 60 hours, has gutted over 108 hectare of forest land in the State. With a forest fire reaching the vicinity of an Air Force Station near Nanda range, Indian Air Force activated its aerial fire fighting capability and deployed a Mi-17 V5 helicopter to douse the fire through Bambi Bucket Operations.
The Indian Army too has deployed two columns for fire fighting in Kumaon, on the request of the forest department.
Talking to The Hindu, District Forest Officer (DFO) Nainital, Chandra Shekhar Joshi informed that the forest fire was firstly reported earlier this week in the Nanda range which later spread downwards reaching IAF establishment.
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“The IAF has sought permission from the district administration to use the water from Bhimtal lake, using Bambi bucket. They are dousing the fire of their establishment while rest of the fire is being controlled by the forest department,” Mr Joshi said.
He added that the fire is around 10 kms away from the vicinity of the city and all efforts are being undertaken to control the same.
Meanwhile, the residents of Nainital and nearby areas are complaining of thick blanket of smog engulfing the region due to leaping flames of the forest fire.
In a disappointment to tourists who are reaching to Nainital in peak summers, boating in the Naini lake is stopped because of the blaze.
Expressing concern over the raging forest fore, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that the government is working hard to control this fire and help from the Army is also sought.
“The forest fires are a challenge for us. This is a big fire. We are working for all the essential needs. We have asked for help from the Army... I am going to conduct a meeting in Haldwani today. We have conducted a meeting in Dehradun also regarding this. We will try to control the fire as soon as possible,” Mr Dhami said adding that the respective district administrations have been asked to ensure action is taken against those trying to ignite fire in hills.
In a similar action, the forest fire protection team formed under the leadership of Divisional Forest Officer, Rudraprayag caught a person named Naresh Bhatt from Tadiyal village, Tehsil-Jakholi. He was trying to set fire in the forests to pave a way from grazing of goats, a communique from the district administration said.
In another arrest, Hemant Singh and Bhagwati Lal were caught red-handed while setting fire in the Dangwal village of North Jakholi.
The accused were booked under the Indian Forest Act 1927 and was sent to jail.
