Uttarakhand: Massive forest fire in Tehri Garhwal affects over 14 hectares of forest
Tehri Garhwal, May 24
A massive forest fire broke out near Budogi village forest in Tehri Garhwal district of Uttarakhand, affecting around 14 hectares of forest area late Saturday night, officials said.
According to the Forest Department, the fire erupted in the evening near the district headquarters, following which firefighting teams were immediately rushed to the spot to control the blaze.
Speaking to ANI on late Saturday night, Tehri Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Puneet Tomar said the situation is now largely under control and the fire has been extinguished.
He said, "The fire broke out in the evening. Our team here reached here very quickly, and the fire is being extinguished...So currently the fire is about to end, and it has gone downwards where there is no population, and it will end at a rapid pace in an hour and a half from now...Overall, around fourteen hectares of our forest area have been affected."
Officials further said that the fire has moved towards a downward slope away from populated areas, reducing the risk to human habitation.
The official added that efforts are underway to fully douse the flames.
Further investigation is still underway, and more details are awaited.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Good that the DFO and team responded quickly. But 14 hectares is still a lot. Why is there no permanent air support for such regions? Even a small helicopter with water bombing capability could save thousands of trees.
Every year same story repeats. 🌳 These fires are often man-made or due to carelessness. Need stricter laws and awareness campaigns in villages. Our forests are our lifeline for water and air. God save the Himalayas! 🙏
I'm from Tehri and I can tell you, these fires are becoming more frequent with climate change. The summer heat is unbearable. Good that no human settlement was affected but what about the wildlife? Deer, birds, and countless insects must have perished. Sad.
Proud of our forest officials who risk their lives fighting these fires. But honestly, we need long-term solutions like fire lines, more watchtowers, and community participation. Every forest fire is a national tragedy. Let's start treating it like one.
Is there any scientific research happening on forest fires in India? We can learn from Australia and California. Fire-resistant tree species, controlled burns, and better satellite monitoring could help. Let's invest in prevention, not just reaction.
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