IAF helicopters join fight to douse Uttarakhand forest fires
As Uttarakhand continued to fight the inferno across 2,269 hectares of forests on Sunday, two IAF helicopters joined the operations, ferrying water through the Garhwal and the Kumaon hills and dumping it in areas inaccessible to forest personnel.
Villages in many districts kept awake at night to try and protect their houses and cattle from the creeping blaze. Wild animals, including snakes, leopards, monkeys and barking deer, moved closer to human habitations, as they were pushed out of the forests by fire and smoke.
Hoping to cut off the spread of fire, the IAF helicopters stationed near Nainital and Srinagar drew water from the Bhimtal lake and a river in Srinagar using 3,500-litre ‘Bambi Buckets’. However, smoke and fog delayed the air operation.
Uttarakhand Chief Secretary Shatrughna Singh said: “There were delays, but the choppers will continue to work on Monday.”
Third chopper to join
A third Mi-17 helicopter will reach Nainital on Monday. “Two will function in areas near Nainital and one near Srinagar,” Mr. Singh said.
The Forest Department’s data show that till Sunday 1,082 incidents of forest fire had covered 2,269 hectares, and preliminary losses were put at Rs. 22 lakh.
However, the blaze showed a declining trend on Sunday. Mr. Singh told that on April 27, there were 140 incidents, rising to 338 on April 28 and 477 on April 29. But on Saturday, they were down to 219 and on Sunday, to 112. Home Minister Rajnath Singh reviewed the situation and held discussions with the Chief Secretary.
Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said the Centre was taking the forest fires very seriously. The government would study the causes and prepare an action plan.
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