J-K: Udhampur battles persistent forest fires amid severe heatwave
Udhampur, June 10
An intense heatwave currently gripping the Udhampur region has triggered a series of forest fires, with the latest blaze reported in the Rang forest area of Ramnagar on Wednesday.
This incident is part of a broader struggle for local forest authorities, who are contending with a spike in fire activity as temperatures soar. According to Naresh Majotra, the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Ramnagar, the department has recorded twenty-one fire incidents since the season began on May 22.
"So far this season--specifically since the first incident occurred on May 22nd--there have been a total of twenty-one incidents, ranging from minor to major," Majotra said.
Highlighting the department's response to the crisis, the DFO added, "We have established around eleven control rooms across various areas, and our entire forest staff is deployed in the field at all times; they remain on-site even in areas where no fire is currently burning."
Explaining the challenges faced by ground teams, Majotra noted that erratic wind conditions have severely hampered containment efforts.
"As I mentioned, there have been twenty-one cases in total. In seven or eight of these instances, we managed to bring the fire under control, but then the wind conditions worked against us--the wind often complicates matters rather than helping," he explained.
The DFO further cautioned that the threat of reignition remains high due to the topography and nature of the forest floor.
He said, "Even if we extinguish the flames, a stray spark or a smouldering pine cone can roll into an unburnt area and reignite the fire."
Just four days earlier, a forest fire had broken out in a compartment in the Dabbar area near Flata village in Udhampur district, prompting an immediate response from the forest department.
Range Officer Ayush Gupta stated that teams were deployed to the location as soon as the information was received. Gupta had been managing another fire in the Tirchi forest area of Udhampur, which has since been brought under control, before rushing to the Dabbar site to oversee the ongoing containment operations. He added that efforts were made to control the fire.
The forest department then issued an appeal to the public following a three-to-four-day heatwave advisory from the Meteorological Department.
Residents were urged not to light fires near forested zones, as the blazes cause massive destruction to wildlife, birds, and the overall forest ecology.
— ANI
Reader Comments
I live in Udhampur and the heat these days is unbearable. Can't imagine how the forest staff must be managing in this scorching sun. But I wonder - are we doing enough to prevent these fires? People need to stop lighting fires near forest areas, it's common sense. The appeal from the department is necessary but is anyone listening?
The DFO mentioned pine cones reigniting fires - that's a serious problem! In our hills, pine needles are like fuel. Government should consider controlled burns in winter to reduce the dry biomass. Also, why can't we use drones to monitor large forest areas? Technology can help save our green cover.
As someone who visited Udhampur last year, this is so sad. The forests there are beautiful and full of wildlife. I hope the authorities can get these fires under control quickly and that there's a long-term plan to prevent this from happening every summer. Climate change is making heatwaves worse everywhere.
I appreciate the forest department's efforts - 11 control rooms and all staff deployed 24/7 is commendable. But we need to ask tough questions: Why are 21 fires happening in less than a month? Is there enough budget for fire lines and equipment? Our frontline forest workers deserve better support and safety gear. Let's hope this doesn't become an annual tragedy.
It's not just the trees burning - think of all the birds, animals, and insects that lose their homes and lives. The ecological damage will take years to recover from. I hope the government considers declaring this a natural disaster zone and allocates emergency funds. Proper forest management is crucial
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