A raging forest fire in the hill state of Uttarakhand has killed five people and razed to the ground 1890.79 hectares of forest land in Kumaon and Garhwal regions, prompting Governor KK Paul to seek deployment of three NDRF companies to douse the flame and conduct rescue operations. The Indian Air Force resumed their fire-fighting operations.
The fire that broke out across the forest area in Uttarakhand has put into peril 1,500 villages in Kumaon and Garhwal division.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh held discussions with the Chief Secretary and other officials of the Uttarakhand government to address the situation.
The adjoining state of Himachal Pradesh and parts of Jammu too are battling forest fires.
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