Tuesday, 30 APRIL 2024 | PNS | DEHRADUN
In latest news from Dehradun, despite the IAF choppers and NDRF personnel roped in to rein in the raging fire engulfing forest spanning both Kumaon and Garhwal divisions, the blaze is still spreading its tentacles, reducing trees to ashes and causing irreparable damage to the environment. Grappling with the grim challenge, the forest department said that as compared to last year, the blaze has inflicted two times more damage to the forest this year, adding that the scanty rain throughout April has exacerbated the situation.
As per figures provided by the forest department, whereas 372 hectares of forest floors came under the blaze in the period of November 1, 2022 to April 29, 2023, over 814 hectares have been affected in the time period of November 1, 2023 to April 29, 2024.
The forest officers apprehended that no significant letup in the situation is likely in the coming one and half months with monsoon unlikely to arrive before mid-June. Meanwhile, the panchayat functionaries urged the villagers to not burn garbage in the open as burning garbage often triggers forest blaze.
