Due to high temperatures and protracted dry spells, forests in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand and the eastern state of Odisha are being destroyed by frequent fires. The fires have been made worse by people setting fire to the forest to gather a flower that is used to make alcohol. 

According to data from the government-run Forest Survey of India, irregular fires occurred in 54.4% of India’s forests as of 2021, with human activity being the main cause.

According to Swapnil Aniruddh, a Uttarakhand forest official, “misconceptions, burning of shrubs to scare away wildlife, and agriculture stubble burning are the main reasons behind the forest fires.” 

 According to government data, there was a brief respite from November to April during the previous season, but this year there had been an increased number of forest fires, with 653 incidents in Uttarakhand alone.

People lighting sections of the forest on fire to gather Mahua flowers, which are highly sought after since they are used to make a well-known liquor, have made Odisha’s fire problems worse.

Using the government’s imaging radiometer, 10,163 fire sites in Uttarakhand have been identified this current season. 

In general, India is quite concerned about the loss of substantial forest cover as it works to drastically cut its emissions that contribute to climate change. 

The Indian Air Force is one of the agencies assisting in putting out the fires. It has sprayed water over the area using the airborne “Bambi Bucket” method of combating fires by gathering water from a nearby lake. 

The Indian weather service has predicted more heatwave days than usual between April and June of this year, along with a lengthier dry season for Uttarakhand, so things could become worse.