Forest fire management
| 27 April 2021 5:51 AM GMT
Devastating forest fire in Mizoram s Lunglei district has left several settlements destroyed. It also exposed the yawning gaps in forest fire management in Northeast region which accounts for more than fifty per cent of forest fires in India. The Indian Air Force deployed two helicopters equipped with Bambi buckets for spraying water to bring the raging fire in the district and adjoining areas under control following an SOS by the Mizoram government. It is heartening to know that no casualty has been reported from the affected areas. The prevailing COVID-19 pandemic situation will make providing shelter and rehabilitation to affected people a challenging task. According to India State of Forest Report, 2019 Mizoram accounts for the highest 29.91 per cent of its forest cover spreading over an area of 5423 sq. km is extremely fire prone and 38.46 per cent forest cover (7009 sq. km) is very highly fire prone and 24.64 per c