The fire broke out in the forest near the Nainital district headquarters and later took a terrifying form, posing a major threat to the residents of the HC colony in the Pines area. (ANI photo)
Nainital district magistrate Vandana Singh also imposed a ban on the construction of houses and car washing until the situation was brought under control. (ANI photo)
Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami assessed the situation by conducting an aerial survey of the areas affected by the fire and also held a review meeting. In the meeting, the CM also reviewed the efforts to prevent forest fire with the officials of Kumaon Division at the Forest Training Academy Haldwani and gave strict instructions to the officers to prevent the forest fires. (ANI Photo)
An Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopter was deployed to help extinguish the raging forest fires in Nainital district, Uttarakhand, as stated by chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. (PTI Photo)
The MI-17 helicopter used a Bambi Bucket to collect water from Bhimtal lake and then poured it over the burning forests in various areas of the district, including Pines, Bhumiadhar, Jyolikot, Narayan Nagar, Bhawali, Ramgarh, and Mukteshwar. (PTI photo)
One of the major reasons for a blaze to erupt in the jungle landscape is lack of moisture. The dry leaves, pine needles, and other flammable materials present on the forest bed serve as fuel for the fires. (ANI photo)
Human activity is the primary cause of over 90% of fires, with locals often intentionally setting fire to grasslands to clear land for agriculture or encourage fresh growth for grazing animals. However, these fires can easily escalate and spread beyond control. Furthermore, campers and tourists may unintentionally ignite fires through negligence. (ANI photo)
Natural factors also contribute to forest fires. Lightning strikes, particularly in remote areas, can serve as ignition sources. Furthermore, shifts in climate patterns resulting in hotter and drier weather have exacerbated the prevalence of forest fires. The topography of Uttarakhand, characterized by 70% forest cover, can exacerbate fire spread and pose challenges to firefighting endeavors. (PTI photo)
