Two forest fires erupted in the Sarah and Bandi areas near Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh on Sunday evening, pushing the total number of such incidents in the division to 80 this year. The fires were reported around dusk and required a coordinated response from forest and fire department teams.
Firefighting Efforts and Current Damage
Dharamshala Divisional Forest Officer Amit Sharma stated on Monday that teams from the Forest and Fire Departments rushed to the scene and spent approximately four hours of strenuous effort to extinguish the flames. The rugged terrain, with slopes ranging from 60 to 70 per cent, combined with strong winds and a scarcity of water, made firefighting operations extremely challenging, officials noted.
According to the Forest Department's online portal, 78 forest fire incidents had been recorded earlier this year. With the addition of Sunday's incidents, the total count now stands at 80. Approximately 347 hectares of forest area have been affected by these fires, with initial assessments indicating a loss of around Rs 92 lakh for the Dharamshala Forest Division.
Cause and Subsequent Assessment
Sharma explained that in most cases, people set fires to clear their grasslands, and these fires subsequently spread to the forests, causing significant damage. He added that the final assessment of the damage is conducted during 'second-tier monitoring' after the monsoon season. During this phase, plantation drives are carried out in the affected areas, and many plants naturally regenerate, which can lead to a reduction in the figures representing actual loss.
The safety of staff and villagers engaged in firefighting is the Forest Department's top priority, Sharma emphasized. Nevertheless, the department makes every effort to bring forest fires under control as quickly as possible and prevent further damage to forest resources.
