Dehradun, May 13: The forest fire in Uttarakhand have been wreaking havoc over the state and there is no respite until now. Data provided by the Forest Department states that nearly hectare of forests have been affected this season and is spreading with each passing time. Around eight people have lost their lives and the forest officials are evacuating people residing in the affected forest areas.

Among the worst affected district in the state include Almora, Nainital and the nearby place of Tehri, Dehradun and Haldwani district of Uttarakhand for over two days. As per the reports, until Sunday, close to 600 cases have been reported with 70 being in Tehri Garhwal, 60 in Champawat 60, 68 in Pauri Garhwal, and 34 in Dehradun. Uttarakhand: Wildfire Grips Forests of Tehri and Haldwani. 

With the rise in mercury, at least 32 wildfire cases from Dehradun in the past ten days alone. The pine jungles of Sattal, Bhimtal as well as Devidhura have been suffering and feeling the heat of wildfire.

The weather department has predicted that there is a possibility of rainfall between May 16 and 18 over the state of Uttarakhand due to back to back Western Disturbances, however, the respite from wildfire is uncertain. reports state that 189.25 hectares of forest area was ravaged in Almora, while in Nanital the destruction has been seen in 168.28 hectares of forest land.

It is to be known that more than 70 percent of the area comes under forests in Uttarakhand and each year forest fire destroys a hundred hectares of land. Though the government claims to take adequate arrangement each year, raging fire is what is beyond their control.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 13, 2019 10:47 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).