As compared to 3,425 hectares of forest land that was gutted in 885forest fire incidents in Uttarakhandbetween November 1, 2021 and June 19, 2022, merely 885 hectares were burnt down this season (November 1, 2022 to June 19, 2023), registering a massive 74.1% dip in forest area that was affected, as per the state forest department.<\/p>\n
Even as after a delayed start, forest fires flared up around mid-June this year, the impact of cyclone Biparjoy, which caused rains and thunderstorms, made sure they died down again soon.<\/p>\n
In Uttarakhand, forest fires usually start raging by April, considered the start of the peak forest fire season, when temperature soars in the hills and forest floors dry up and turn inflammable. This year, due to unseasonal rains and snowfall from March to May, summer was delayed and forest fires much less than usual. An uptick in cases was recorded from June 9-14, when temperatures across state started settling 4 to 5 degrees above normal. With a week-long dry spell, the mercury had touched the 39-40 degrees Celsius mark.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"