DEHRADUN: A raging forest fire, now in its sixth day, continues to burn in the Pulna–Bhyundar forest area adjacent to the world-famous Valley of Flowers National Park in Uttarakhand. With ground access proving nearly impossible due to treacherous terrain, authorities are pinning their hopes on aerial intervention or natural factors such as rain or snowfall to bring the blaze under control.
The fire, first spotted on Friday, January 9, is affecting around 15 hectares of forest land at an altitude of over 3,500 metres. Satellite imagery has confirmed that the fire is burning on a hill opposite the protected Valley area. Forest Department teams have made several attempts to reach the core fire zone but were repeatedly forced to retreat due to sheer rock faces, steep inclines and the constant risk of falling debris.
“This is an extremely remote and challenging area to access,” said Forest Conservator Akash Verma. “The lack of snow cover due to drier weather has left the undergrowth, especially dry grass and old oak stumps, highly combustible. Our focus is on preventing lateral spread.”
Initial efforts included setting up temporary crossings over the surging Yamuna-Gangotri river. Teams managed to reach the Hamwanti Second Beat but had to withdraw because of the harsh conditions. Local support, including members of the Mahila Mangal Dal (Pyula), helped rebuild a permanent bridge on Monday to improve access, though operations remain severely constrained.
Acknowledging the seriousness of the situation, the state administration has escalated the issue. Following an appeal from the Forest Department, Chamoli District Magistrate Gaurav Kumar informed the state government. Aerial surveillance was carried out on Tuesday to assess the feasibility of water-bombing operations.
Senior officials later held a high-level meeting chaired by Principal Secretary (Forests) R K Sudhanshu. Chief Conservator of Forests (Forest Fire Control) Sushant Patnaik said the immediate plan was to attempt dousing the flames using a helicopter from UCADA. “If required, we are prepared to seek assistance from the Indian Air Force,” he added.
Uttarakhand Disaster Management Secretary Vinod Kumar Suman also confirmed preparedness for escalation, saying the state had sought IAF support given the sensitivity of the situation.
Officials have reassured the public that the core Valley of Flowers National Park remains safe. The fire site is about 7 km away by air and roughly 22–25 km by the most arduous ground route. Two major rivers—the Yamuna-Gangotri and the Pushpavati—flow between the fire zone and the park, acting as effective natural fire lines. Authorities have said the probability of the fire breaching into the protected area is “zero”.
Meanwhile, vigilance is being maintained to ensure that burning logs rolling downhill do not ignite lower forest tracts. A crucial helicopter survey of the area is scheduled for Wednesday.