Forest Fire Rages in Nainital, Uttarakhand; Army and Air Force Roped in for Assistance

A raging forest fire in Nainital, Uttarakhand, has prompted the forest department to rope in the Indian Air Force and the Indian Army. The blaze, which has been burning for over 36 hours, has consumed several hectares of green cover, necessitating urgent intervention. Helicopters have been deployed by the district administration to aid in firefighting efforts.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed concern over the situation, stating, "The forest fires are a challenge for us. We have asked for help from the Army." He further added, "We will try to control the fire as soon as possible."

The fire broke out near Nainital and has encroached upon the High Court colony area, located near the Pines region, causing disruptions to traffic movement. Anil Joshi, assistant registrar of the High Court, remarked, "The fire has engulfed an old and vacant house near The Pines. It has not caused any damage to the High Court Colony but it has reached dangerously close to the buildings."

Efforts to contain the fire have been intensified, with the involvement of army personnel alongside forest department personnel. Concerns loom over the fire's proximity to the Indian Army's installation near the Pines area.

In the past 24 hours alone, the state has witnessed 31 new incidents of forest fires, resulting in the destruction of 33.34 hectares of forest land. The Kumaon region reported 26 incidents, while Garhwal reported five. Since November 1 last year, Uttarakhand has recorded a total of 575 forest fire incidents, affecting 689.89 hectares of forest land and incurring costs exceeding ₹14 lakh.