Srinagar, Jan 23: The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has issued a ‘very high forest fire risk’ alert for forested areas in Jammu & Kashmir over the next seven days.
“Very High Forest Fire Risk is likely to occur over forest areas in J&K, in the next 7 days. In case of emergency dial 112,” reads an advisory on the NDMA Sachet web portal.
The NDMA alert, as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), has advised to close windows, vents, and other openings in homes living near forested areas to prevent smoke from entering and further asked to move animals and goods to safer places away from the fire-prone areas.
A senior officer from the Jammu and Kashmir Disaster Management Authority (JKDMA) confirmed to KNO the alert’s authenticity, stating, “This alert is generated through our portal and is scientifically validated. Based on its severity, we activate responders such as the fire and emergency services and the forest department.”
He said the residents are urged to call 112 in case they spot a fire, and their teams will take immediate action to contain and manage the situation, stating that their top priority remains to save lives and protect properties.
The advisory stresses the importance of ensuring all fire-related materials, such as campfires or cooking stoves, are completely extinguished after use. People are also advised to avoid forested areas during this high-risk period.
The JKDMA official said that they have set up operation centers to handle any incidents, urging the public to stay vigilant and follow safety protocols to prevent environmental damage, loss of wildlife, or human casualties.
Notably, such alerts come in response to dry weather conditions, rising temperatures, and reduced humidity, which significantly increase the likelihood of forest fires in the region.
Similar warnings have been issued by the authorities in the past, where residents and visitors near forest areas were urged to exercise extreme caution and avoid activities that could trigger fires, such as lighting campfires or discarding cigarette butts.
As per the current advisory, NDMA has advised to stay calm if a sudden fire occurs and to avoid panic and follow emergency protocols.
The advisory strongly advises not to enter forest areas during such a high-risk period.
The NDMA, including JKDMA, has been highlighting the importance of vigilance during such critical periods to prevent any such incidents that could lead to environmental damage, loss of wildlife, or risk to human lives—(KNO)
