Dehradun, May 21 -- Garhwal Post Bureau

Pauri, 20 May: Incidents of forest fires are rapidly increasing across the hill districts of Uttarakhand, with large stretches of forest land continuing to burn in several areas of Pauri and Chamoli districts, causing extensive damage to valuable forest wealth and raising fresh concerns over the impact on wildlife and the fragile Himalayan environment. In Chamoli's Narayanbagar area, a massive fire in the Western Pindar Range of the Badrinath Forest Division has destroyed nearly 5,500 saplings planted this year, while in Pauri district several forest patches along roadsides and hill slopes were seen engulfed in flames.

In Pauri district, fierce fire was reported from forests near Buakhal and Sabda...