Wildfires ravage Uttarakhand forests, more than 50% wildlife species at threat

While the forest fires in Australia got the world’s attention, the mainstream media ignored the ongoing Uttarakhand wildfires ravaging the Kumaon and Garhwal regions over the COVID-19 pandemic news. With temperatures rising due to the onset of summer, wildfires have been breaking out in different areas of Uttarakhand.

There are reportedly 21 wildfires in the Kumaon region and 16 in the Garhwal region. There were nine other wildfires in reserve forest areas. The state has so far reported 46 wildfires, with more than 50 hectares of forests gutted. The forest department has put the monetary loss at ₹1.32 lakh. Two people have lost their lives.

Some locals say miscreants have been setting jungles on fire. They saw two men with torches lighting the forest on fire. Other locals said a combination of revellers and a lack of moisture in the forest caused the fire.

According to Jai Raj, head of the Uttarakhand forest force, one person in the Kumaon division has been booked for attempting to start fires. Forest officials say they are on high alert statewide to prevent such an act.

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