Kullu: A massive fire broke out in the Patlikuhal forest area of Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh during the early hours of Tuesday danmaging forest wealth worth crores of rupees, sources said. The cause of the fire was not immediately known. Videos of the fire incident in the forest area are also being widely shared on the Internet.
In the videos, massive flames are seen raging from the forest area with heavy plumes of smoke emanating from the gutted forests. Pertinently, according to a report by the Himachal Pradesh Forest Department, a total of 1195 incidents of fire incidents have been reported in the state. According to the report, the districts of Bilaspur, Chamba, Nahan, Rampur, Shimla and Solan account for the majority of forest fires with each district reporting fire incidents in double digits.
The report further revealed that the said forest fire incidents have destroyed forest wealth worth over whopping Rs 2.88 crore. According to the report, the forest fire incidents in the hill state of Himachal Pradesh have gutted a total forest cover of a whopping 13275.17 hectares. Of the total area damaged by the forest fires, 2079.21 hectares is natural area, 10061,60 hectares is plantation while a forest area on 1134.36 hectares of other area have also been destroyed in the forest area, the report said.
In the financial year 2023-24, a total of 263 forest fire incidents have been reported in Himachal Pradesh so far destroying forest cover on 571.67 hectares of land, the report said.
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