With the arrival of summer, forest fire incidents have once again started appearing in the district. A fresh fire was reported at several locations along the Pauri–Srinagar road, raising concerns about safety and environmental damage in nearby areas.
The flames have reached close to the roadside in many places, creating difficulties for pedestrians as well as motorists. Thick smoke has reduced visibility along certain stretches, increasing the risk of road accidents.
Locals said such fires occur almost every year during the summer months, causing heavy loss to forest cover. They added that recurring fires also threaten wildlife that depends on these forests for shelter and food.
Ashish Godiyal, a local resident, said while travelling down from Pauri, he noticed the fire near Sainik Dhaba. “I tried my best to control the flames and did whatever I could at that moment. I request the Forest Department to act quickly and bring the fire under control. The destruction of forests directly affects wild animals, as their food sources are being damaged,” he said.
He further appealed to officials to respond urgently. “Forest Department staff should reach the spot as soon as possible. There are villages located nearby, and the fire may spread and affect residents if not controlled in time,” he added.
Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said weather activity may occur in districts such as Uttarkashi, Chamoli and Pithoragarh, especially in areas located above 4,000 metres altitude. Dry weather conditions are expected to continue in the remaining parts of the state.
The IMD has also forecast a gradual increase in maximum temperatures across Uttarakhand, with temperatures likely to increase by 1–3 degrees Celsius over the next three to four days.
According to the department, very light to light rainfall, thunderstorms and snowfall may occur at isolated places in higher altitude regions of the state. The IMD added that during the past 24 hours, maximum temperatures in the plains remained above normal to appreciably above normal. In the hill districts, temperatures ranged from normal to slightly above normal levels.
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