Uttarakhand forest fires: Things as they happened on Sunday

Dehradun/New Delhi: Raging forest fires have destroyed vast swathes of forested land across Uttarakhand. 

Pauri, Nainital, Rudraprayag and Tehri are among the worst-hit districts.

Following are the updates:

01 May 2016

22:27 PM

"We have been informed that fresh images from satellite have shown that the effective area under fire in Uttarakhand has come down to 110-115 locations from the earlier about 427. It is expected that these figures will be brought down to 50-60 in the next few days by the combined forces fighting to douse the jungle fire," says NDRF Director General OP Singh.

22:27 PM

"With three IAF choppers sprinkling thousands of litres of water over affected areas in Nainital and Pauri districts and over 10,000 personnel of NDRF, SDRF, PRD, forest guards and homeguards engaged in fire fighting operations on the ground we can say the situation is very much under control," says Additional Chief Secretary S Ramaswamy.

20:26 PM

Over 10,000 personnel of different departments are deployed, such deployment is unprecedented: Shatrughan Singh, Chief Secretary.  

20:25 PM

Incidents of fire reported this year are more than other years: Shatrughan Singh, Chief Secretary. 

20:24 PM

Situation is under control. Central government's 4-member team of experts already in the state: ANI quotes government sources as saying.

19:31 PM

There's been considerable decrease in fire incidents frm 427, 3-4 days back, to 150: OP Singh, OP Singh, NDRF DG. 

19:30 PM

We are using traditional methods of beating fire. With the help of the state administration, we are very effectively doing it: OP Singh, NDRF DG.

19:29 PM

Have deployed 3 NDRF teams in 3 districts, have worked in 14 locations today: OP Singh, NDRF DG.

19:17 PM

Three Air Force helicopters (1 ALH and 2 MI-17) with Bambi bucket and 116 rescuers in 3 NDRF teams deployed to assist local administration.

19:17 PM

Four member central team of experts in Uttarakhand for forest fire incidents in the state.

18:48 PM

6000 people deployed for fire fighting operations in Uttarakhand.

18:48 PM

IAF team resumes fire fighting operations.

18:47 PM

No significant changes in temperature. Possibility of light rain in Uttarakhand day after tomorrow: MeT. 

18:47 PM

2270 hectares of forest area across 5 districts of Uttarakhand affected.

18:46 PM

Fire breaks out at over 12 places in Shimla rural forest division (HP), nearly 50 hectare of forest area affected.

18:46 PM

Modi govt has been unable to tackle one of the biggest environmental tragedies of Uttarakhand: Congress' Randeep Surjewala.

18:45 PM

 Home Minister Rajnath Singh reviewed the situation in Delhi and held discussions with chief secretary and other officials of Uttarakhand government. He also offered all assistance from the Centre.

As the Centre's handling of the forest fires came under attack from the Congress, Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said the government was taking the incident "very seriously" and making all efforts to control it.

"Government is taking the forest fires of Uttarakhand very seriously. 6,000 people have been deployed for fighting it. We also granted Rs 5 crore to the state yesterday," he said, as per PTI.

18:44 PM

An IAF Mi 17 chopper on Sunday flew several sorties in Nainital district sprinkling water lifted from a lake to douse the raging forest fires that have destroyed vast swathes of forested land across Uttarakhand.

Low visibility, however, prevented a second chopper from being deployed in Pauri district for the aerial operations in the hill state which commenced today as part of efforts to control the fires that has killed seven persons and destroyed 2,269 hectares of forested land. 

The fire has also spread to sparsely populated remote hill areas.

Pauri, Nainital, Rudraprayag and Tehri are among the worst-hit districts.