Government in action over Uttarakhand forest fire, watch visuals

As the forest fires flare up in Uttarakhand, Chief Minister Tirath Singh Rawat on Sunday held an emergency meeting with senior officials of the forest and disaster management departments besides all district magistrates to assess the situation and discuss ways to effectively control it.

The meeting took place as at least four people and seven animals died in the fire that broke out in 62 hectares of forest area in the last 24 hours.

The state government has also asked the forest department officials not to take any leave and keep a close watch on the situation.

The Centre also rushed two helicopters to Uttarakhand on Sunday to bring the situation under control after the Chief Minister informed Union Home Minister Amit Shah about the current forest fire situation in the state.