Wild fire is blazing across the forests of Himachal Pradesh, with the dry weather acting as a catalyst in the process.
Forest wealth worth crores have been destroyed by fires in the forests of Shimla, Solan, Sirmaur, Mandi, Bilaspur, Una and Kangra.
Shimla, the state Capital, is hazy with smoke emanating from many blazing forest fires surrounding the hill station.
The state forest department and environmental agencies have once again been slow to react and take measures to tackle the situation.
It is also becoming clear that many of these fires, as usual in the hill state, are started mostly by greedy villagers wanting to encroach on forest and grasslands belonging to the government.
In an election year villagers think the authorities will do little to stop them from encroaching on precious forest land.
Many a times environmental agencies have highlighted the regular illegal practice of taking over of government owned forests and grasslands and converting them into farmland.
The largely corrupt state forest department has been looking the other way even as top officials in Shimla informs the media about appointing a nodal officer and a task force involving forest and village bodies to put out these fires.
Reports suggest they have by and large failed to douse the flames. With no sign of rain to come in the next few days it remains to be seen how much more damage will be done before the wet weather ultimately douses these flames.
