Sweltering heat gripped the plains of Uttarakhand with the mercury in Dehradun surging up to around 40 degree Celsius. According to reports, no relief from heat is expected in the next few days with the possibility of rains being remote. Along with the soaring temperature, incidents of forest fire and other kinds of fire around Dehradun are increasing. “The number of forest fire cases around the capital is on the rise. Similarly, we are being informed of short-circuit-spawned fires. However, we are on our guard,” said Shiv Prasad Mamgain, fire security officer, Dehradun.
“Around twenty cases of forest fire have been reported on Tuesday from near Dehradun and few such cases occurred in the residential areas on the outskirts of the city. This is, however, not uncommon as these occur every year during the summer,” Mamgain said. “Strong dry winds and rising temperature have fueled wildfire in the forest area around the city in the past few weeks and these happen especially during noon hours,” he said.
“However, we are a little worried as the number of forest fire cases in and around Dehradun has increased as compared to 2014 as per statistics. The surging mercury might account for the increased number,” he said.
“People have started calling on the emergency numbers (100 or 101), informing fire caused either by electrical short circuits or by dumped waste being lighted,” he added. “It is good that the people have started using the services. The trend is encouraging,” he said.
College student Nikhil Singhal, resident of Patel Nagar, said that some people from the locality had called 101 after short circuits occurred in the air- conditioners over the past few weeks.