India’s Forest Fires are Now Worrying the Scientists

For the last few weeks, India’s forest fires have been the highlighted issue around the globe. The Uttarakhand state of northern India is famous for its splendid green mountains, lush sceneries aad picturesque views. But the haze of forest fires that emerges few weeks before has hidden the view almost completely. The forest department of Uttarakhand has recorded 1,500 fire incidents in the state until now and the numbers are still increasing.

Every year The Himalayan region in Uttarakhand faces forest fires. Factors like rising temperatures of summer and crop-stubble burning, local agricultural practices contribute to the adversity of these forest fires. But this year scientists think that dry winters have intensified the fires.

Scientists said that this year fires in both Uttarakhand and Nepal’s forests have been the strongest. It seems to break records since 2003 by emitting 0.2 megatons of Carbon in just the past month. In the same time period, Nepal seems to emit 18 megatons of Carbon which is the highest number since 2016 when the records were 27 megatons. This factor clearly speaks that this year India’s forest fires are harming the environment and increasing global warming like never before.

In an interview with BBC, Shekhar Pathak, an expert on the forest’s history in the state said,

“You can smell the haze from this side of the lake where I live. Not just the pine trees that are highly prone to fires, even the oak forests are burning and that means the situation is quite serious.”

Reports said that 20 people have been killed by the fires in Uttarakhand and Nepal. It seems like India’s forest fires have erased hundreds of thousands of hectares. Although official figures are yet to be published, the severity shows that this number will not be small. Atul Sati, an environmental activist living in the state said that,

The forest is the big wealth of Uttarakhand. It’s our main resource. If we lose it, it’s not only a loss for Uttarakhand, it’s a loss for India and the world.

India’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) still hasn’t included forest fires in natural hazards. Krishna Vatsa a member of NDMA has given the reason in an interview to BBC,

“The reason why we have not listed forest fires as natural hazards is because in India most of such fires are deliberately caused by people mainly for agricultural purposes and, therefore, it is an anthropogenic [man-made] hazard. But we do recognise that forest fires are becoming a serious hazard and that is why we are working with forest departments and other agencies of all the states to deal with the issue”

Forests Experts in Nepal and Uttarakhand are working along with local communities to help control the fire and lessen the side effects. But still, there is not enough help from the administration. The forest experts and locals are asking government officials about the hundred and thousands of funds they receive yearly to prevent this kind of crisis.

What will happen in the coming days? The fire should stop or at least should be in control up to now. But it is increasing day by day endangering both human and animal lives. What fears the locals and officials more are that Fires are usually reached at peaks in May. So, they fear that worst is yet to come. The Government should really focus on this hazardous issue sooner and plan strategies to control the fire in critical regions. All we can do is hope for the best and raise funds for our Indian and Nepali fellows to survive in these harder times. Watch the following video to know more about the Uttarakhand forest fire.