Besides destroying hectares of forest land, the Uttarakhand forest fire has huge implications on the lives and livelihoods of the local population
Forest fire in Uttarakhand has claimed more than 3,739 hectares of forest land this year (Photos by Vikas Choudhary)
Virender Singh (L) and Hemant Singh Galiya (R) say that the fire behind them started 20 km away, but has reached the corner of their village. All dry leaves that would be used as fodder have been destroyed
Kundan Singh of Hariyaal village in Nainital says this is the biggest fire he has seen in his 61 years
Locals of Gugghu Sigri village have been trying to entinguish the fire for days. It has now reached their village
Hemant, a class 10 student from Gugghu Sigri got hurt when he tried to put out the fire near his house
Forest workers have been working tirelessly to put an end to the devastating fires. Kundan, a forest worker, walks through a part of the forest destroyed by fire
Locals have been working along with the forest department and the NDRF to battle the fire. Suresh Lal returned to his village after four days of continuous work in the forest
Groups of men travel to Uttarakhand to extract the valuable gum (lisa) from pine trees. Sandeep Rana of West Bengal, who earns Rs 20-25 thousand by selling this gum, may have to go empty-handed this year
Efforts to control the fire have been stepped up
Over 11,000 personnel, including that of NDRF, SDRF, PAC and the forest department are keeping the situation in check
Locals have also been actively trying to save the jungles, but the fire seems to rage on
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