Up in smoke: Uttarakhand looks to the clouds, forest fires rage on

In the last 2 or 3 days, forest fires have broken out with seething frenzy in many areas of the hill state, and are threatening to destroy the rich plant and animal wealth of the Himalayan region

The Uttarakhand forest department has turned its gaze heavenwards, hoping and praying that the meteorological department’s weather forecast proves ac­curate and the rain gods co­me to the rescue of the state that’s struggling with forest fires.

In the last two or three days, forest fires have broken out with seething frenzy in many areas of the hill state, and are threatening to destroy the rich plant and animal wealth of the Himalayan region, particularly in its wildlife sanctuaries.

Already two government schools and a tea garden have been destroyed in the Pauri district. More than 1,600 hectare of forest area