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Uttarakhand fires: Battle to douse deadly blaze in Indian state | |
(35 minutes later) | |
Thousands of people are battling deadly forest fires in India's northern Himalayan state of Uttarakhand. | Thousands of people are battling deadly forest fires in India's northern Himalayan state of Uttarakhand. |
At least six people have died in the fires, which have burned more than 1,900 hectares (4,700 acres) of forest, officials said. | |
The fires broke out a month ago, but intensified in recent days with more than 400 burning simultaneously. | The fires broke out a month ago, but intensified in recent days with more than 400 burning simultaneously. |
They have not yet hit Himalayan tourist towns, but villagers say that smoke has affected air quality and visibility. | They have not yet hit Himalayan tourist towns, but villagers say that smoke has affected air quality and visibility. |
The Uttarakhand fires in numbers | |
Officials say fires have been widespread this year because the forest is exceptionally dry due to low rainfall. | Officials say fires have been widespread this year because the forest is exceptionally dry due to low rainfall. |
"This can be compared with the worst fire of 2012," said Environment and Forests Minister Prakash Javadekar. | "This can be compared with the worst fire of 2012," said Environment and Forests Minister Prakash Javadekar. |
The Indian air force has used helicopters to help douse the flames, although low visibility caused by smoke has limited their deployment, local media reported. | |
But the National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF), which is co-ordinating the fire-fighting effort, reports that satellite imagery indicates that 70% of the flames have been put out. | |
The director general of the agency, OP Singh, told the PTI news agency that they have managed to bring down the number of fires from 427 to 110-115 locations. | The director general of the agency, OP Singh, told the PTI news agency that they have managed to bring down the number of fires from 427 to 110-115 locations. |
India's water crisis | India's water crisis |
Droughts in India as temperatures soar | Droughts in India as temperatures soar |
Searching for water in drought-hit Latur | Searching for water in drought-hit Latur |
India's water refugees who live in cattle camps | India's water refugees who live in cattle camps |
'Avoid cooking from 9am to 6pm' | 'Avoid cooking from 9am to 6pm' |
A lack of water and wives in India | A lack of water and wives in India |
Is India facing its worst-ever water crisis? | Is India facing its worst-ever water crisis? |
The Indians risking their lives for water | The Indians risking their lives for water |
The fires come as India suffers one of its worst droughts in years. The government says 330 million are now affected by water shortages. | The fires come as India suffers one of its worst droughts in years. The government says 330 million are now affected by water shortages. |