Dehradun – The Uttarakhand Disaster & Accident Analysis Initiative (UDAAI) has issued a concerning report highlighting a surge in forest fires and related fatalities in the state.
The report, compiled by the Social Development for Communities (SDC) Foundation, underscores the urgent need for improved disaster preparedness and management policies in Uttarakhand.
Over the past two weeks, forest fires have ravaged Uttarakhand, particularly in the Kumaon region.
Tragically, three laborers, including a woman, lost their lives while attempting to extinguish a forest fire in Almora district. This incident marks the first fatalities from forest fires in the state this year.
The victims, who were extracting highly inflammable pine resin (leesa) in Someshwar tehsil, were trapped by the flames on the evening of May 2.
Deepak Kumar, the divisional forest officer (DFO) of Almora, stated, "A case has been registered, and we are trying to ascertain how the fire started. We have lodged a complaint with the police, and an FIR has been registered."
The recent surge in forest fires has caused extensive damage, with over 1,000 hectares of forest land affected in the last six months.
Nishant Sharma, the nodal officer for forest fire incidents in Uttarakhand, confirmed that the state reported 64 forest fire incidents on May 3 alone—30 in Garhwal, 29 in Kumaon, and five in wildlife administrative regions.
According to the Forest Survey of India (FSI), Uttarakhand recorded the highest number of large forest fires in the country from April 25 to May 2.
During this period, the state also registered 3,768 fire alerts, second only to Odisha, which recorded 3,769 alerts.
SDC Foundation President Anoop Nautiyal expressed deep concern over the escalating situation.
"The alarming rise in forest fires and the resulting fatalities highlight the critical need for a comprehensive disaster management and accident minimization policy in Uttarakhand", he said.
The state, being ecologically fragile and earthquake-prone, must take urgent steps to enhance its disaster preparedness," he stated.
Nautiyal called for immediate action from all sectors. "We need political leaders, policymakers, and bureaucrats to prioritize this issue," he said.
"Research institutions, businesses, and civil society organizations must collaborate to find solutions. The media and citizens must stay engaged and informed."
"The recent deaths and extensive damage underscore the urgency," Nautiyal added.
"We must act now to improve our planning and execution of climate actions and disaster management in Uttarakhand."
