Forest fires wreak havoc in Himachal, CM Virbhadra Singh says ‘nothing new’

"It is nothing new. Fire break out in forest areas due to rise in temperature," said chief Minister Virbhadra Singh.

As wildfires took a heavy toll on Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh too found itself in the grip of fresh forest fires — 41 reported in six districts Sunday. On Saturday, 58 such fires were reported, with 12 incidents being in Shimla town alone.

“Exact report of the loss and area affected will be available tomorrow. Telephonic and other information received during the day has confirmed major forest fires in Taradevi forests of Shimla, Bilaspur, Kunihar (Solan), Hamirpur, Nurpur and Dharamshala in Kangra, beside parts of Una,” said S P Vasudeva, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests.

The total number of forest fires reported till Sunday was 378, affecting an area of 3,307 hectare that included natural forests and new plantations. The fires also pose a threat to the plantations by the farmers’ groups under the bio-carbon sub-project of the mid-Himalayan watershed project.

It is nothing new. Fire break out in forest areas due to rise in temperature: Virbhadra Singh, Himachal Pradesh CM pic.twitter.com/ArzPuElHvX

— ANI (@ANI_news) May 1, 2016

I think 50-60 hectares of area is affected: Raman Sharma, DFO on Shimla forest fire pic.twitter.com/8IRPTsPs5e

— ANI (@ANI_news) May 1, 2016

#WATCH: Fire across 12 places in #Shimla‘s rural forest division (HP), nearly 50 hectares of forest area affectedhttps://t.co/J4tpKutZDN

— ANI (@ANI_news) May 1, 2016

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Solan Deputy Commissioner Rakesh Kanwar said reports of fires had also been received from Kasuali areas and the Kunihar belt. Forest officials and local panchayats were told to take steps to control the blaze.

“From May 3 to 7 there is a prediction of rains,” a Met official informed.

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First uploaded on: 02-05-2016 at 01:45 IST

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