State had highest forest fires in country: Report

Uttarakhand reported 21,033 forest fires from November 2023 to June 2024, the highest number to be recorded by any state in the country, showing almost a fourfold increase compared to the corresponding period in the last year (November 2022 to June 2023), the biennial India State of Forest Report (ISFR) published by the Forest Survey of India (FSI) in its 2023 report said.

- Amit Bathla

DEHRADUN:

The hill state witnessed 5,351 forest fires from November 2022 to June 2023 and ranked 13th in the list of states in the country. It reported 12,985 forest fires from November 2021 to June 2022.

The state's five districts—Nainital, Pauri Garhwal, Almora, Tehri Garhwal and Uttarkashi—also appeared in the top 20 districts in the country with maximum forest fires reported during the November 2023-June 2024 period. Nainital ranked fourth with 3,320 forest fire detections during this period, Pauri Garhwal stood fifth with 3,193 forest fires, Almora sixth with 2,810 forest fires, Tehri Garhwal was at 11th position with 2,589 forest fires, and Uttarkashi at 13th with 2,457 forest fires. Gadchiroli in Maharashtra topped the list of districts with maximum fires in the country after it reported 7,042 forest fires. It is followed by Alluri Sitharama Raju in Andhra Pradesh (6,399), Bijapur in Chhattisgarh (5,018).