Kashmir’s forests continue to burn

Srinagar, Apr 7: The green heart of Kashmir is burning and with it, a legacy of natural beauty and ecological richness is going up in smoke.

In what is being described as an unprecedented environmental crisis, more than 100 forest fires have erupted across Jammu and Kashmir over the past two weeks.

The fires, relentless and widespread, have consumed over 200 acres of forest cover, triggering alarm and despair among residents and environmentalists alike.

The worst-hit district is Anantnag, where daily flare-ups have turned once-thriving woodlands into smouldering wastelands.

The Lidder, Kokernag, and Shangus Forest Divisions have suffered particularly severe damage.

“It is like watching a part of ourselves vanish every day,” said Aasif Shafi of Seer in Anantnag. “Our green gold is burning before our eyes, and we feel helpless.”

On Sunday morning, the crisis escalated once again as videos emerged on social media showing flames engulfing the forests of Hutmurah Mattan, Nambal, and Seer in the Lidder Division.

Later in the day, another blaze erupted in Compartment 43 of the Narbal-Rafiabad forest in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, continuing a pattern that locals now fear is becoming the new normal.

Since April 1, forest fires have been reported in 15 districts across both Kashmir and Jammu divisions.

In Kashmir, fires have scorched parts of Pulwama, Budgam, Ganderbal, Bandipora, Baramulla, and even the Zabarwan hills near Srinagar.

In the Jammu division, active blazes have been reported in Rajouri, Ramban, Reasi, Doda, and Poonch.

The Jammu and Kashmir Disaster Management Authority (JKSDMA) has issued two fire alerts: an “extreme” risk warning valid until April 10 for forests near Purmandal and Kathua, and a “very high risk” warning for areas around Rajwalta, Kalakote, Samba, Kathua, and Lakhanpur.

Residents have been advised to stay vigilant and contact emergency services via Helpline 112.

Despite the warnings, anxiety continues to grow — particularly in the Lidder Division of Anantnag, where Dochipora and Khuwripora in the Bijbehara-Pahalgam belt have witnessed repeated flare-ups.

Hills once blanketed in pine and fir trees now lie charred, as firefighting teams and local volunteers battle to contain the advancing flames.

The Forest Department has attributed the fires to human negligence, illegal camping, and prolonged dry spells.

However, many locals are unconvinced.

“This can’t all be coincidence,” said Shafi. “There’s a pattern to where and how these fires start. Some may be accidental, yes — but many of us believe there’s more to it.”

That suspicion is echoed in Tral, another affected region, where residents are calling for a thorough investigation.

“Experts say the dry spell is over. So why are the fires still raging?” asked Ajaz Ahmad of Tral. “These forests are our legacy. We can’t afford to lose them — whether through negligence or deliberate destruction.”