Raging Fires Scorch, Devour Uttarakhand Forests, Six Dead

Raging forest fires in Uttarakhand prompted the Centre to send in three companies of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) to add to the efforts of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) to put out the flames and conduct rescue operations.

Since the beginning of forest fire incidents in the state in early February, 922 incidents have occurred so far killing six people including three women and a child, in separate incidents, injuring seven and blighting 1890.79 hectares of green cover.

BP Gupta, Principal Conservator of Forest

The casualties due to forest fires which have spread to sparsely-populated remote hill areas, rose to six with another life lost in Nainital district on Friday evening.