Situated at an altitude of 3,300 metres above sea level, the Valley of Flowers has around 600 exotic variety of flowers.
| Photo Credit: VIRENDER SINGH NEGI
With forest fire raging in the Valley of Flowers, a UNESCO heritage site, for the last five days, the Uttarakhand Disaster Management Department has sought the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) help to douse the inferno.
Situated at an altitude of 3,300 metres above sea level in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, the Valley of Flowers has around 600 exotic variety of flowers.
According to the officials of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), the fire broke out in the forests of Painkhanda under the Valley of Flowers range of the Nanda Devi National Park. Due to the difficult terrain and the lack of access routes, it has become difficult for firefighters to reach the area, they said.
“Under these circumstances, the State has sought support from the IAF,” said Uttarakhand Disaster Management Secretary Vinod Kumar Suman.
The State authorities are not leaving any stone unturned. “The district administration is making all efforts. The authorities have conducted a helicopter survey and if necessary, plans have been made to pour water from helicopters into the affected area to extinguish the fire,” Chamoli District Magistrate Gaurav Kumar said.
Unusual occurrence
Experts expressed shock over the incident, as forest fires are generally reported from February to June and usually peak in May and June. “Almost no or nominal snowfall in the hills might be the reason for the incidents of forest fires being reported in early January. The snow keeps the surface wet and prevents such incidents,” an SDRF official said.
Data from the Forest Survey of India stated that Uttarakhand received high number of forest fire alerts in December 2025. The State received 1,153 forest fire alerts in 2025, which has destroyed hundreds of hectares of forest land.
Published – January 14, 2026 12:34 am IST
