Article by Viory
Wildfire Rages On
A massive wildfire continued to burn across the forests surrounding Kasauli, one of Himachal Pradesh’s most popular tourist destinations, despite more than 40 hours of firefighting efforts by emergency services, forest officials and the Indian Army.
Footage shows dense smoke rising above hillsides as flames consume large areas of forest.
The fire, which reportedly began near Manon village on May 26, has spread across nearly 15 kilometres of forest land, affecting areas including Gilbert Trail, Upper Mall, Shamlech, Anji, Kandaghat and Basal.
Massive Firefighting Effort
Army helicopters have been carrying out aerial firefighting operations since Tuesday, making more than 50 water drops after collecting water from Sukhna Lake. More than 62,000 litres of water have already been dropped on affected areas, while fire tenders, forest department teams and residents continue efforts on the ground.
According to local observer Dr Banu, authorities and residents managed to contain “around 80-90 percent of the fire to some extent” despite difficult terrain and limited access to water sources.
Wildlife And Pollution
Banu also warned of the impact on wildlife and air quality. “There is a lot of smoke. This has caused serious air pollution,” he said, adding that animals could be heard ‘crying out all night’ as the blaze spread through protected forest areas.
Resident Pradeep shared that villagers joined firefighters in cutting fire lines and carrying water to stop the flames from reaching homes. “There were around 15-20 people working together. […] Everyone did whatever they could to help put out the fire.”
Authorities Issue Warning
Authorities urged residents and tourists to remain vigilant, while the cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Kasauli, a popular hill resort in Solan district, attracts thousands of visitors each year. Forest fires are a recurring challenge in Himachal Pradesh during the dry summer months. Officials warned that thick smoke from the blaze reduced air quality across the region and disrupted daily life for residents and tourists alike.
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