Raging forest fires in Uttarakhand has prompted centre to send three companies of NRDF to put of the flames and conduct rescue operations. Governor KK Paul had asked for the NDRF's help to deal with the crisis. He had, on Thursday, doubled the number of state personnel deployed to tackle the fires to 6,000.
A high-level meeting he chaired of the state's top officials also decided to provide water tankers to put out fires. Since Feb, 922 incidents of forest fires were reported and in this mishap, five people were died. Three women and a child were among them.
Seven others were injured. Pauri, Tehri and Nainital are the worst affected districts because they have a thick cover of Cheed and Sal trees which are highly inflammable. Locals were already asked to infor this fire mishap as soon as they see it. Chief Secretary Shatrughna Singh said,
"The NDRF companies, assisted by experts, will launch fire extinguishing and rescue operations in affected areas immediately." Locals have been told to report the fire mishap to distric magistrate.
