The forests of the Valley of Flowers are ablaze! The situation is out of control; help has been requested from the Air Force
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For the past five days, the forests of the Valley of Flowers have been engulfed in flames. Now, the only hope of extinguishing the fire raging in the Pulna-Bhyundar forest lies in divine intervention – rain or snowfall is the only way to completely bring the fire under control. Taking the matter seriously, the government is continuously monitoring the area using satellites. On Tuesday, a helicopter was used to conduct a reconnaissance of the area to assess the situation and explore the possibility of aerial water bombing to control the fire.
Forest Fire Rages in the Valley of Flowers!
A fire has been raging since January 9th on the hill opposite Pulna Bhyundar in the Valley of Flowers range of Nanda Devi National Park. Despite several attempts, the forest department team has been unable to reach the area due to the difficult, rocky terrain. Consequently, the forest department requested the administration to use a helicopter to extinguish the fire.
Situation Assessed from Helicopter
Following this request, the area was surveyed by helicopter on Tuesday. Satellite images revealed that the fire is located on the hill on the other side of the Valley of Flowers. Approximately 15 hectares of forest land are affected by the fire.
Fire to be Extinguished by UCAADA Helicopter
According to Forest Conservator Akash Verma, the fire is burning in a forest at an altitude of over 3500 meters. Reaching the area is extremely difficult due to the rugged terrain. Frost and fog are also posing challenges.
Due to the lack of snowfall and rain, the forests are very dry. Efforts are being made to prevent the fire from spreading further. Initially, attempts will be made to extinguish the fire using a UCAADA helicopter. If necessary, the Indian Air Force will also be called upon for assistance.
