• UGI USER
  • Jun 03, 2024
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“FOREST FIRE IN JAMMU’S GANGERA HILLS RAISES ALARMS AMID HEATWAVE”

Why in the news?

  • A forest fire engulfed the Gangera hills in Jammu & Kashmir’s Udhampur district, causing significant concern among local residents and authorities.
  • The blaze, fueled by rising temperatures, highlights the increasing frequency of such incidents in the area.
source:scribd

About Gangera Hills:

  • Scenic hills in Udhampur district, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
  • Geographic Features:Part of the Shivalik range, foothills of the Himalayas.
  • Vegetation: Dry, deciduous forests with Sal, Acacia catechu, and Olea ferruginea trees.
About Forest Fire:

  • Uncontrolled combustion of plants in natural settings like forests, grasslands, brushlands, or tundra.
  • Requires three essential elements: fuel, oxygen, and a heat source.

Classification:

  • Surface Fire: Burns along the ground.
  • Underground Fire/Zombie Fire: Low-intensity fires consuming organic matter beneath the surface litter.
  • Canopy or Crown Fires:Spreads through the upper canopy of trees.

Government Initiatives:

  • National Action Plan for Forest Fires (NAPFF):Launched in 2018.

Associated Article:

https://universalinstitutions.com/court-to-scrutinise-uttarakhands-forest-fire-response-and-preparedness/