Himachal's Wildfire Woes: Government Plans New Battalion

Himachal Pradesh, grappling with 1,318 wildfire incidents this year, plans to form a dedicated disaster response battalion. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu highlighted the urgent need for specialized training and equipment to tackle forest fires. The state aims to mitigate financial losses and protect affected plantation areas.

With Himachal Pradesh experiencing over a thousand wildfire incidents this year, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced Monday the state's consideration of a dedicated disaster response battalion. This unit, specifically trained and equipped for forest fire incidents, aims to address the increasing wildfire threats.

A statement revealed that the state has recorded 1,318 fire incidents so far this year, affecting 12,718 hectares of land, including 2,789 hectares of plantation area, leading to a preliminary financial loss of Rs 4.61 crore.

The chief minister expressed grave concern and directed the forest department to intensify efforts. He emphasized the formation of an NDRF battalion aimed at minimizing forest area losses and highlighted the need for both immediate and long-term solutions, stressing community involvement in these initiatives.