Pics: Uttarakhand forests go up in flames, rescuers jump into action

The central government assured Uttarakhand on Saturday of help to douse the fires that have affected 1,900 hectares of forest land and claimed five lives.

The central government assured Uttarakhand on Saturday of help to douse the fires that have affected 1,900 hectares of forest land and claimed six lives in the state since February.

NDRF men battle a fire in the hills of Pauri Garhwal district in Uttarakhand. (Arun Sharma/HT Photo)

Union home minister Rajnath Singh spoke to governor KK Paul over phone and pledged necessary assistance to control the forest fires and contain the damage, official sources said.

Uttarakhand is under President’s rule and the governor is the administrative head.

Read: As fire rages, Uttarakhand residents, social media users debate cause

The home ministry has sent teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) to the state. Three NDRF teams have been deployed in Almora, Gauchar and Pauri, and a state team has been sent to Nainital.

Since the beginning of forest fires in February, 922 incidents have been reported, killing six people including three women and a child.

Smoke engulfs a forest in Pauri Garhwal. (Arun Sharma/HT Photo)

Forest fires are a natural phenomenon in summer but this time they have occurred on a bigger scale.

Former chief minister Harish Rawat has asked the governor to declare Uttarakhand as a fire disaster-struck state and involve residents in fire-extinguishing efforts.

Read: Disaster response force deployed to control Uttarakhand forest fires

NDRF men walk on a hilly road as smoke covers the twilight sky. (Arun Sharma/HT Photo)

NDRF men march on even as smoke covers them. (Arun Sharma/HT Photo)

NDRF personnel douse the flames. (Arun Sharma/ HT Photo)

NDRF men in a forest in Pauri Garhwal. (Arun Sharma/ HT Photo)

NDRF men douse the flames and conduct rescue operations in Pauri Garhwal. (Arun Sharma/ HT Photo)