Himachal Pradesh: Fire Engulfs Forest Area In Shimla, 991 Incidents Reported

Shimla/ Hamirpur: Himachal Presh has witnessed 991 forest fire incidents since onset of summers with two incidents of forest fires reported in Shimla and Hamirpur district on Tuesday, officials said.

A massive fire broke out in a forest in Shimla’s Tutikandi area around 11.30 am and reached a government building, officials said. No casualties have been reported so far.

In Hamirpur, drinking water supply in town was disrupted as main pump house was damaged in a forest fire, y said.

fire which broke out in Hiranagar area around 2.30 pm quickly spre throughout forest and reached pump house.

According to fire department’s data, 991 forest fire incidents have been reported in state this summer season. Frequent fires were witnessed in Shimla, Solan, Bilaspur, Mandi and Kangra districts.

Himachal Presh’s Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Rajiv Kumar attributed forest fire incidents to rise in temperature due to heat wave conditions prevailing in state.

Man-me activities like throwing a burning cigarette in forest and lighting up a fire for various purposes also le to a large number of fires, he said, ding that efforts are being taken to control such incidents.

Himachal has a total of 2,026 forest beats out of which 339 are “very sensitive”, 667 are “sensitive” and 1,020 are less prone to forest fires.

In Tutikandi, blaze started at around 11.30 am. It quickly spre throughout forest and reached Bal Ashram of Department of Social Justice and Empowerment located on outskirts of Shimla city, y said.

fire tenders were able to control fire around ashram, officials said.

Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Shimla (Rural) Aneesh Sharma confirmed report and said efforts are being me to douse blaze which will take one to two hours.

Assistant Engineer of Hamirpur subdivision of Jal Shakti Department said that wires and or equipment of pump house have been burnt and water supply in town could remain disrupted for next two days.

Over 50,000 people get water supply from Hiranagar water reservoir of town. He has appealed to all city residents to use water cautiously.

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