Centre sends NDRF to conduct rescue operations in Uttarakhand

Dehradun: The Centra Government, responding to the raging fire in Uttarakhand forest, took a prompt descision of sending National Disaster Response Force(NDRF) to conduct rescue operations.

About 135 personnels have been sent to the hill-state in order to conduct the operations.

The forest fire:

• The forest fire are natural during summers in Uttarakhand but this time they have occured on a large scale.
• Earlier. On February 2, two women were killed due to the fire in the jungles of Uttarkashi.
• Other casualities included a woman and her six year old child, reported from Nainital and Pauri districts.
• The Principal Conservator of Forests (PCF) BB Gupta said, "the scale of forest fire in Uttarakhand has increased due to negligible rain in the state during winters."

What officials said:

• Chief secretary Shatrughan Singh confirmed the news saying, "the NDRF companies, assisted by experts will launch rescue operations in affected areas immediately."
• Uttarakhand saw 922 cases of forest fire since early february, told PCF Gupta.
• Gupta said that five people were killed by the fire, including 3 women and a child, in seperate incidents.
• Senior officials stated that Pauri, Tehri and Nainital are the worst affected due to there thick cover of highly inflamable trees.

Other highlights:

• Governor KK Paul had asked the three companies of NDRF, to dealt with the crisis.
• Pre-fire alerts are being made available on forest department website- www.forest.uk.govt, along with possible fire points in the state, for the next seven days.
• Former CM Harish Rawat had asked the governor to declare the hill state as fire disaster stricken state.
• Rawat had requested the governor to involve locals in fire extuingishing efforts.