Farmers lose standing crops, homes and livestock to fires caused by stubble burning, short circuits and electricity theft. Rising temperatures and the westerly winds fan the flames in the summer season when the incidence of fires increases 40-50%.

The heatwave, which is sweeping across the country right now, is causing fires that are swallowing up the standing crops. On April 18, in Majhra village of Unnao in UP, 40 hectares of wheat was lost to a raging fire. Farmers blame delayed response by the fire department, which in turn points fingers at old fire engines, insufficient manpower and bad roads.

The Anghar Mukt Abhiyan is an awareness campaign to sensitise the local villagers regarding forest fire. The programme, conducted in 113 buffer villages of the tiger reserve, has witnessed participation of close to 10,000 people. The incidence of forest fires in Melghat has come down from 379 in 2016 to 221 in 2021.

Without waiting for the forest officials to arrive at the blaze site, two minor girls aged 13 and 16 and two women aged 23 and 43 took it upon themselves to extinguish the forest fire which was in close proximity to their village. Read more about the brave act which coincidentally unfolded on a day dedicated to women empowerment across the world.