Valley of Flowers Engulfed in Five-Day Forest Blaze, Air Force Assistance Sought
A fierce forest fire continues to burn near the iconic Valley of Flowers in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district for five consecutive days. The Forest Department has officially requested assistance from the Indian Air Force to combat the flames threatening this UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Inaccessible Terrain Hinders Firefighting Efforts
The fire is raging in the mountains of Nanda Devi National Park at an altitude between 3,500 and 4,200 meters. It is located between the Lakshman Ganga and Alaknanda rivers, creating significant challenges for ground personnel.
Range Officer Chetna Kandpal explained the difficulties. "Our forest department staff attempted to reach the fire site but could not proceed due to the dangerous terrain," she said. "Falling boulders and shooting stones made the climb too hazardous. The area is completely inaccessible on foot because of its extreme elevation."
The District Magistrate has formally written to the secretariat requesting assistance from multiple agencies, including the Indian Air Force.
Environmental Conditions Fuel the Flames
While the exact cause of the fire remains undetermined, several environmental factors are contributing to its persistence:
- Exceptionally low humidity levels recorded at 20-25%
- Dry deciduous trees that shed leaves earlier than normal
- Heavy accumulation of leaf litter providing abundant fuel
- Insufficient precipitation this year to control the spread
Kandpal elaborated on the conditions. "These mountains typically receive adequate snowfall, but this year's precipitation has been insufficient. The dry nature of the deciduous trees combined with accumulated leaf litter has created perfect conditions for the fire to sustain itself."
Aerial Survey Planned for Assessment
Authorities plan to conduct an aerial survey on Wednesday to assess the situation properly. This reconnaissance mission aims to determine the exact size of the burnt area and formulate appropriate response strategies.
"We initially requested helicopters for fire dousing operations," Kandpal stated. "However, we will first conduct a preliminary survey to understand the extent of damage before deciding on specific intervention methods."
The nearest human settlement remains across the river and has not been affected by the fire so far. On Tuesday, forest teams conducted prevention and patrolling operations in the hilly areas between the two rivers.
Multiple Attempts to Reach Fire Site Fail
A reconnaissance team managed to observe the fire from a distance but could not reach the actual site. They reported visible smoke and flames from old stumps in inaccessible locations between the Alaknanda and Lakshman Ganga rivers.
The team constructed a makeshift bridge to cross the river but encountered another obstacle. Steep rock faces blocked their path, preventing them from reaching the fire-affected area directly.
Sushant Patnaik, in charge of Forest Fire and Disaster Management, provided additional details. "The Forest Survey of India alert detected this fire on the evening of January 9," he said. "The location has no approach roads or accessible paths. We deployed forest personnel and State Disaster Response Force teams, but they could not reach the area."
Patnaik added that weather conditions prevented helicopter use for Tuesday's planned survey. "Inclement weather forced us to postpone the aerial reconnaissance. We will attempt the survey on Wednesday and then seek appropriate assistance from the central government based on our findings."
Uttarakhand's Persistent Forest Fire Challenge
Forest fires represent a recurring problem in Uttarakhand. According to the Forest Survey of India's State of Forest Report 2023 released in December 2024:
- The state reported a burnt area of 1,808 square kilometers
- Uttarakhand recorded the highest number of forest fire detections nationwide with 21,033 alerts from the SNPP-VIIRS satellite
- Of the state's 53,483 square kilometer geographical area:
- 2,021 square kilometers face very high fire risk
- 7,185 square kilometers are in the high-risk category
- 9,293 square kilometers have moderate fire risk
The state recorded 33 total fire alerts on Tuesday, including fires continuing from previous days. Winter fires from November to February typically result from crop residue burning and controlled clearance of fire lines.
This incident follows the tragic loss of six forest department personnel during firefighting operations at Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary in Almora district in June 2024. Authorities continue working to determine both the exact cause and full extent of the current Valley of Flowers fire.
