Prolonged absence of winter rains triggers rise in forest fires in U'khand

PROLONGED deficiency of winter rain has resulted in resurgence of forest fires in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand with Raini village currently facing the brunt after the Tapovan area.

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According to sources in the fire department, the mountainous regions of Uttarakhand are experiencing a surge in forest fires due to the prolonged lack of winter rain.

Incidents of forest fires are rapidly increasing in several dried-up forest areas. Forest department sources revealed that the forests in the Pipalkoti area of Chamoli district, Jugju in the Tapovan region of Joshimath, and the jungles of Juwagwar are also engulfed in flames. Additionally, a fire has broken out in the civil area forest of Jamrakhala on the Pauri-Srinagar highway, marking the second such incident in these forests.