Saturday, 15 JUNE 2024 | PNS | DEHRADUN
Considering the forest fire in Almora on Thursday which claimed the lives of four people, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) will remain deployed near Kainchi Dham till Sunday. This deployment is due to the expected arrival of hundreds of people at the temple on Saturday during the Kainchi Dham Mela. The Additional District Magistrate of Nainital, PR Chauhan stated that due to the rising temperatures and decrease in humidity, the Bhowali range, Naini range and Manora range are currently highly susceptible to forest fires. The foundation day of Kainchi Dham will be celebrated on June 15 and as a result, a large number of devotees and tourists are expected to visit. In case of a forest fire, various emergency response teams from the Forest department, Police and Fire services, along with NDRF and SDRF will remain deployed to provide relief and conduct rescue operations. These teams will cover an area of one kilometre on both sides of the Kainchi Dham temple premises along the Niglat road, Hali-Hartapa road and between the Kainchi Dham temple and Ratighat. He said that these teams will be stationed at their designated locations with the necessary relief and rescue equipment. They will ensure relief and rescue work in the event of any incidents, he added. The divisional forest officer of Nainital Chandrashekhar Joshi also informed that the department has formed teams of deputy forest officers of Nainital and Mukteshwar for effective prevention of forest fire around the Kainchi Dham temple area. The teams will ensure the arrangements of necessary resources, equipment, fire safety helmets and other necessary items required to tackle forest fires. He said that the forest officers will also ensure the deployment of four mobile crew stations on the Bhowali track route besides the deployment of five fire watchers and a driver.
