Overview
- Between February 15 and April 27, officials logged 226 forest fire incidents that damaged 144.22 hectares across Uttarakhand, with Garhwal accounting for 177 incidents and 110.52 hectares.
- Badrinath division reported the most cases at 57, while Rudraprayag recorded 31 incidents that burned the largest single-division area at 21.82 hectares.
- Forest authorities have deployed special teams and Quick Response Teams and placed the Char Dham pilgrimage route on high alert to knock down new ignitions fast.
- The Uttarakhand Meteorological Centre issued orange alerts and forecast rain, thunderstorms, lightning, hail, and strong winds, which could slow some fires yet spread others through gusts.
- Officials link the surge to a dry winter, an April heat spike, and human ignitions, with resin-rich chir pine needles and seasonal burns for grass and edible fungi turning forest floors into easy fuel; hotel operators in Almora report occupancy near 40 percent as heat and smoke deter visitors before the May–June peak.