Uttarakhand forests continue to burn: Around 2,270 hectares in five districts affected

New Delhi: Latest satellite images of Uttarakhand have reported that the forest fire has gone out in over 70 percent of the affected areas, even as the NDRF deployed over 130 personnel to tackle the massive blaze. Meanwhile, continues to blaze across 2,270 hectares of forest area affecting five districts.

Uttarkashi: #UttarakhandForestFire continues to blaze across 2270 hectares of forest area, 5 districts affected pic.twitter.com/xzX2z6FJfL

— ANI (@ANI) May 2, 2016

“We have been informed that fresh satellite images has shown that the area under fire in Uttarakhand has come down to 110-115 locations from the earlier about 427. We expect to bring this figure down to 50-60 in the next few days by the combined forces fighting to douse the jungle fire,” NDRF Director General O P Singh told PTI. He said the images from the sky were taken on 29-30 April and this has now given hope to all the agencies combating the fire that it will be contained soon. Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said that over 6,000 employees have been deployed to tackle the fire and said the cause of the fire is because of summer dry spell with no humidity. He assured that the fire will be doused in three to four days.

PMO,NDRF,IAF working in unison, I'm sure #UttarakhandForestFire will be extinguished in 3-4 days-Prakash Javadekar pic.twitter.com/eZeYwkGGf9

— ANI (@ANI) May 2, 2016

More from India

Wife and son watching, Indian-origin man beheaded at US motel; suspect illegal migrant, arrested Why physiotherapists in India will no longer be allowed to use ‘Dr’ before their names

6000 employees have been deployed,we've asked to deploy more than 10000 ppl-Prakash Javadekar #UttarakhandForestFire pic.twitter.com/lzXVbqLsqv

— ANI (@ANI) May 2, 2016

#UttarakhandForestFire a severe fire,happens because of dry spell of summer with no humidity,we're tackling it from front-Prakash Javadekar

— ANI (@ANI) May 2, 2016

Impact Shorts

More Shorts

News18 SheShakti 2025: Voices of cinema, sport and music redefine nation-building

Women leaders at News18 SheShakti 2025 redefine what it means to build a nation

The director general said the NDRF men are also working to save animals who could have been trapped in the blazing fire. A squad of over 135 personnel of this special force are deployed in Uttarakhand as part of multiple firefighting teams to combat the raging fire in the jungles of Uttarakhand that have destroyed about 2,269 hectares of jungles in several districts and claimed at least seven lives till now. [caption id=“attachment_2759252” align=“alignright” width=“380”] Villagers shift to safer places in Uttarakhand. PTI[/caption] The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams have spread out in 13 affected areas of three districts of Pauri Garhwal, Almora and Chamoli with fire fighting equipment to tackle the massive blaze. “Our teams are working in 13 sectors in coordination with the officials and personnel of the state fire and forest department. The teams have been instructed to adopt the conventional method of cutting the fire line and containing the fire. We are using fire beaters and green bushes to cut the fire from spreading. About 135 personnel as part of multiple teams are working in Uttarakhand at present,” Singh said. He said in Chamoli, the NDRF is working in Pakhi and Gopeshwar areas, while in Almora the teams are working in areas like Binsar, Someshwar, Bikisen, Siplakhet and Dhauladevi. Each team is covering an area of 8-10 sq km, he said, adding, additional NDRF teams have been kept on standby at its camp in Ghaziabad. The force also saved a house from getting engulfed in the fire in the hilly jungle area of Mehlchori in Pauri district in which a family of four members lived. Singh said he is in constant touch with his team leaders working in the state.