Forest fire rages in Himachal; rain expected to bring relief

Last Updated05/06/2024

Several wildfires in Himachal Pradesh due to prolonged dry spell and unusually high temperature in the past month

Wildfires have destroyed several hectares of forest cover and damaged biodiversity and the forest ecosystem.
Government data shows as many as 1,318 forest fire outbreaks have been reported across the State this year.
The average maximum and minimum temperatures have been hovering appreciably above normal in Himachal Pradesh since May.
The temperature coupled with dry spells poses a big challenge for the State Government authorities to control the forest fires.
- However, with dry weather conditions and warm temperatures expected to abate in the days to come, there’s hope that incidents of outbreaks will abate.

The Chief Minister directed the department to address the issue. He instructed them to initiate long term measures along with immediate initiatives to curb the problem.
He added that the State government is contemplating forming a dedicated battalion of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) specially equipped and trained for firefighting to reduce losses in forest areas.
He also directed the forest department to conduct a study to look into the causes of fires and recommend necessary action.
There is also the need to diversify the conifer plant regions with specific plant species to help retain moisture and reduce the number of fire incidents.

Both the maximum and minimum temperatures have been abnormally higher this year for over a month
The weather was dry and warmer, and there was hardly any humidity, which increases the probability of forest fires.
However, a fresh western disturbance is expected on June 4, which would provide respite from the heatwave conditions and high temperatures in most parts of the state.