Massive Forest Fire At Uttarakhand Hills Brought Under Control After 48-Hour Operation

Tharali: A devastating forest fire that broke out in the mountainous Badrinath Forest Division of Uttarakhand's Chamoli district was brought under control after nearly 48 hours of continuous firefighting efforts by forest personnel, aided by local villagers.

Officials said the blaze was first detected two days ago near Chepar and Saugaon villages and spread to the nearby areas of Khadibagad, Junidhar, and Gotinda, damaging several hectares of green cover.

Alerted teams of the forest department rushed to the spot and battled the flames for nearly two days before bringing them under control, said Badrinath Division DFO Sarvesh Dubey.

“The flames have advanced dangerously close to residential areas, threatening cowsheds in Chepadon Village, and have even reached Junidhar Village upstream. The extent of the damage is still being assessed,” he said.

Preliminary estimates indicate that nearly 1.5 hectares of forest area, predominantly pine trees and wild grass, were affected.

The Forest Range Officer of the Central Pindar Range of the Badrinath Division, Manoj Devradi, said that the damage was confined to a large extent.

“The fire has been completely extinguished after a lot of effort. The fire was so large that it was difficult to control, but our workers and locals somehow managed. The total area burnt was approximately 1.5 hectares, and a full assessment is currently underway,” he said.

“The fire has destroyed many trees, both large and small, which poses a significant threat to the local wildlife that depends on the forest habitat. The terrain is also challenging for the firefighters,” he said.

He said the department is also looking into the fire's cause and identifying suspects who may have started it. “Despite the challenges, forest personnel remain committed to bringing the fire under control as soon as possible and bringing the culprits to justice,” said Devradi.

The fire had caused a thick haze in the region, leading to eye irritation and respiratory issues among residents, especially those with pre-existing conditions.

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