The Uttarakhand forest department has begun reviving British-era firelines to prevent wildfires after receiving clearance from the Supreme Court, which had restricted tree felling above 1,000 metres altitude in a 1996 order.

Decades without tree felling or clearance of vegetation rendered these firelines ineffective, as they have become overgrown with dense vegetation that fails to halt spreading fires.

Also Read: CM clears Gargai water project for Mumbai amid forest dept opposition

Firelines are strategically cleared strips of land in forests that serve as barriers against wildfire spread. These strips, devoid of vegetation and flammable materials, help slow or stop fires from advancing across forested areas. According to officials, they were initially established during the British colonial period as part of their forest management strategy.

Also Read: 1.7 lakh hectares of forest area diverted for non-forestry purpose in 9 yrs: Govt

“Firelines are an integral part of our forest management and are crucial for forest protection from fires,” said Dhananjai Mohan, head of Uttarakhand forest force. “These firelines were originally established during the British period, but in the 1980s, the government decided to prohibit tree felling above 1,000 metres. Over time, trees and vegetation naturally grew over these fire lines, rendering them ineffective.”

Read More

Also Read: U.P. CM for steps to combat heatwave: Fire control rooms set up in all divisional forests

On May 17,2023, the Supreme Court allowed the state government’s prayer to maintain firelines in the forest areas of Uttarakhand even if it ordains felling of green trees. It also permitted the state government to carry out silviculture operations including felling, thinning, pollarding and other cultural operations in accordance with the prescriptions of working plans approved by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

But the tracts may not be restored in time for this year’s wildfire season, which typically coincides with the peak summer phase, before the onset of monsoon.

“Work has now begun on clearing 400 kilometres of firelines, and over the next two years, we aim to clear the backlog of the past 40 years. Once completed, managing these fire lines will become significantly easier. They will play a vital role in preventing the spread of forest fires,” he added.

Nishant Verma, additional principal chief conservator of forests and state nodal officer for forest fires, said: “I can’t tell how many trees are to be felled for revival of these firelines, but it is being carried out by the forest corporation as prescribed in the working plan.”

Mohan revealed that the department has developed a four-pronged innovative strategy to prevent forest fires. This includes a mobile app and dashboard to reduce response time, collection of chir pine needles for biofuel production, a memorandum of understanding with the India Meteorological Department for real-time weather analysis, and the adoption of the Shitalakhet forest fire prevention model.

The Shitalakhet model originated in the early 2000s in Shitalakhet, a village in Uttarakhand’s Almora district, as a community-led initiative to combat escalating forest fires and water scarcity. In 2003-2004, the Kosi River, vital for Almora, experienced a drastic reduction in water flow, highlighting the urgent need for environmental intervention.

A group of local youths formed the Shyahi Devi Vikas Manch to address these challenges. They identified that uncontrolled exploitation of broad-leaf trees and frequent forest fires were degrading the forests, leading to diminished water sources.

“From December 15 to February 15, we sent 1,170 personnel from 19 forest divisions to study the model and adopt it in their respective divisions,” said Mohan.

Significant reduction in fire incidents

“Since November 1 last year, only 31 forest fire incidents have been reported in Uttarakhand. This is less than half of the fire incidents recorded during the same period last year,” he said. The fire alerts received during this period from Forest Survey of India have also reduced significantly, from 3,084 to 1,347.

In 2024, 1,276 wildlife incidents were reported in the state that claimed 13 lives, the deadliest toll since 2021 when eight people lost their lives. In June last year, six forest workers were killed while extinguishing a fire at the Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary under the Civil Soyam Forest Division in the Almora district.

According to the biennial India State of Forest Report published by the Forest Survey of India in its 2023 report, released in December last year, Uttarakhand reported 21,033 forest fires from November 2023 to June 2024, the highest number recorded by any state in the country. This represents almost a four-fold increase compared to the corresponding period in the previous year (November 2022 to June 2023).

Forest fires are generally reported from February to June, typically peaking in May and June. The fires impact biodiversity, affecting microorganisms in the soil, wildlife, small insects, birds and people living in and around the forests, disrupting the overall ecology of an area.

In Uttarakhand, 0.10% of total forest cover comes under the extremely fire-prone category, 12.92% under very highly fire-prone, 27.64% under highly fire-prone, 20.01% under moderately fire-prone and 39.33% under less fire-prone category.

While India’s energy needs are rising rapidly, the supply is still heavily dependent on coal which accounted for nearly 79% of the total in 2023-2024, the Energy Statistics 2025 released on Saturday said.

Despite a boom in renewable-energy installations, coal production grew by 11.71% in 2023-24, reaching 997.83 million tonnes, up from 893.19 million tonne in the previous year, the report, released by the ministry of statistics and programme implementation, showed.

“In the context of rapidly growing economies, especially in densely populated regions like Asia, there is an urgent need to shift towards cleaner energy sources,” the report said. “Coal has underpinned the expansion of electricity generation and industry, and remains the largest single fuel in the energy mix.”

According to official projections, India is likely to account for a quarter of the global energy demand in the next two decades.

To be sure, the share of the energy sector in emissions decreased from 59.74% in 2014 to 56.53% in 2020, the report added. In petroleum, high-speed diesel was the dominant product, accounting for 42% of total production, followed by petrol at 16%, the report showed.

Read More

Renewable energy resources saw a growth of 11.15% during 2023-24 over 2022-23, the report showed, but they aren’t enough to meet the country’s increasing demand due to economic expansion, a growing population and extreme weather.

Installation of solar street lighting systems, home lighting systems and solar lanterns remained stable compared to the previous year, the report showed. Solar photovoltaic plants registered a growth rate of 19.61% over the previous year, indicating a positive increase in decentralised renewable energy solutions.

Frequent heat waves and cold snaps cause sudden spikes in power demand, increasing peak consumption and putting additional pressure on electricity reserves. “Estimating future demand accurately has become extremely important to prevent supply-demand mismatches and outages,” said Vivek Choudhuri, an engineer with the Central Electricity Authority.

The report said India had a “huge potential for generation of renewable energy”, which stood at 21,09,655 megawatts as on March 31 2024. In this, the potential from wind power is the largest at 11,63,856 megawatts, or 55%, followed by solar energy (7,48,990 megawatts) and large hydro (1,33,410). More than half of the clean-energy potential is concentrated in four states: Rajasthan (20.3%), Maharashtra (11.8%), Gujarat (10.5%) and Karnataka (9.8%).

India aims to reach net-zero emissions by 2070 and to meet 50% of its electricity requirements from renewable energy sources by 2030. Gross generation of electricity from the renewables has increased from 2,05,608 gigawatt-hour (GWH) in 2014-15 to 3,70,320 GWH during 2023-24, a compound growth rate of 6.76% over the decade.

The country has grown energy efficient over time, the data showed. Energy intensity (units of energy purchased for one unit of economic output or gross domestic product) declined from 0.2703 mega joules per rupee in 2014-15 to 0.2180 MJ per rupee in 2023-24. This decline indicates efficiency gains.

Power output clocked a compound annual growth rate of 5.01% in the last decade, the data showed but “the generation of electricity in India still depends heavily on coal”, the report states.

From a climate standpoint, the positive development is that rising costs of conventional power generation is likely to speed up the transition to clean energy, apart from India’s ambitious green-energy goals, said Sunil Dahiya of EnviroCatalysts, a clean energy advocacy organisation.

World news: WHO faces budget crisis as US withdrawal cuts $600 million in funding

The World Health Organization (WHO) is planning to cut a fifth of its budget due to a $600 million funding shortfall after the US announced its withdrawal, according to an internal email from WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

The US, previously WHO’s largest donor, halted nearly all foreign aid under President Donald Trump’s administration, impacting global health initiatives. Tedros warned that these “dramatic cuts” are disrupting countries, NGOs, and UN agencies, including the WHO.

Even before Trump’s decision, the WHO was struggling with financial constraints. However, the situation has worsened as some nations redirect development aid toward increased defence spending. Despite cost-saving efforts, Tedros admitted resource mobilisation remains challenging.

Sarada Muraleedharan, Kerala’s highest-ranking bureaucrat, opened up about facing colourism first-hand and claimed that “Black is Beautiful.” Her powerful statement sparked conversations about body-shaming, self-perception, and redefining beauty standards in India.

Myanmar Earthquake Live Updates: The death toll from a major earthquake in Myanmar has risen to 1,644, the ruling junta said Saturday, with 3,408 people injured. A statement from the junta’s information team said that at least 139 people are still missing after Friday’s shallow 7.7-magnitude quake.

Myanmar experienced another earthquake on Saturday, just a day after powerful tremors left over 1,000 dead and many more injured.

According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the latest quake measured 5.1 in magnitude and struck near Naypyidaw at around 2:50 pm local time. It occurred at a depth of 10 kilometres. The extent of the damage or casualties from this new tremor is still unknown.

Series of Aftershocks Compound Crisis

The disaster began on Friday when a powerful earthquake struck near Sagaing, triggering at least 12 aftershocks. These ranged from 2.8 to 7.5 in magnitude, worsening the situation across multiple regions. The worst-affected areas include Mandalay, Bago, Magway, northeastern Shan State, Sagaing, and Nay Pyi Taw, according to Xinhua news agency.

Infrastructure Damage Slows Rescue Operations

The Myanmar government has declared a national emergency as relief teams scramble to respond. Key transport routes have been damaged, making it difficult to deliver aid. The Yangon-Mandalay highway near Naypyidaw and Mandalay has suffered extensive damage, forcing people to rely on an older route to reach affected areas. Parts of Mandalay Airport have also collapsed, further limiting movement between the country’s largest cities.

Power Cuts and Communication Failures Pose Challenges

Rescue operations are facing severe obstacles. Fire service personnel from lower Myanmar have arrived in hard-hit locations, but widespread power outages and disrupted communication networks are slowing their progress. The destruction has left thousands in urgent need of food, water, and medical care.

Buddhist monks walk past a collapsed building after a powerful earthquake in Naypyitaw, Myanmar
| Photo Credit: AP

India to send 118 personnel with field hospital to Myanmar as death toll crosses 1,000

The death toll from a powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake in Myanmar jumped to more than 1,000 on Saturday (March 29, 2025) as more bodies were pulled from the rubble of the scores of buildings that collapsed when it struck near the country’s second-largest city.

16 Maoists killed, two jawans injured in Sukma

Security forces gunned down 16 Maoists in an anti-Maoist operation conducted in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma district on Saturday (March 29, 2025), said the police. Two security personnel also sustained injuries.  

Statehood in Jammu and Kashmir to be restored as promised: Amit Shah

Statehood in Jammu and Kashmir will be restored as promised before, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has said, without giving any timeline. Mr. Shah said at a summit on Friday (March 28, 2025) night that Assembly elections were held in Jammu and Kashmir peacefully last year.

More trouble for Kunal Kamra, three cases filed against him in Mumbai

Three separate cases have been filed against Stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra at Khar police station over his alleged controversial remarks about Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. One of the complaints was filed by the Mayor of Jalgaon city, while the other two complaints came from a hotelier and a businessman from Nashik, as per the Mumbai Police.

India, U.S. officials conclude round of talks on proposed trade pact: Sources

India and the visiting U.S. officials have concluded a round of talks on Saturday (March 29, 2025) for the proposed bilateral trade agreement, government sources said. They said the negotiations are progressing well.

IPL 2025 | Salt helps RCB gain control with his ultra-aggressive approach in PowerPlay

Royal Challengers Bengaluru needed an aggressive opener for IPL 2025. The franchise figured out Phil Salt was the man for the job. In a YouTube video titled The Launch — Phil Salt Planning, it can be seen how impressed the RCB think-tank was while discussing the English player’s numbers.

Film academy apologizes for not naming ‘No Other Land’ co-director Hamdan Ballal in response to attack on him

After mounting criticism following its initial response to the violent attack on Oscar-winning No Other Land co-director Hamdan Ballal, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences apologized Friday for not acknowledging Ballal by name.

Muhammad Yunus says important for Bangladesh to see China as good friend; expects ties to enter new phase

Bangladesh interim government’s Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus said it is “important” for his country to see China as a good friend and he expects ties between Dhaka and Beijing to enter a new phase as he wrapped up his four-day China visit on Saturday (March 29, 2025).

Farm loan waiver: Maharashtra govt committed to fulfill all poll promises, says Shinde

Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde on Saturday (March 29, 2025) said the government will fulfil all promises made in the election manifesto, a day after his cabinet colleague Ajit Pawar’s ‘farmers need not wait for a crop loan waiver’ statement caused a flutter.

IRCTC case: Lalu Prasad, Rabri Devi, Tejashvi Yadav seek discharge

RJD president Lalu Prasad, his wife Rabri Devi and their son Tejashvi Yadav on Saturday (March 29, 2025) urged a court to discharge them in a corruption case connected to purported irregularities in the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) between 2004 and 2014.

MNREGA: Mysuru crosses 24 lakh man-days target during 2024-25

The Mysuru Zilla Panchayat has achieved its target under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) scheme by attaining 24,43,834 man-days, against the target of 24 lakh man-days for 2024-25.

Jagjit Singh Dallewal has not ended indefinite fast, says farmer leader

Punjab farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal has not ended his indefinite fast even though he drank a glass of water after farmers detained last week by the state police were released from different jails, farmer leader Abhimanyu Kohar said on Saturday (March 29, 2025).

Kathua encounter: J&K deputy CM says conspiracies hatched from across border ‘killing our children’

Conspiracies hatched from across the border are “killing our children”, Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary said on Saturday (March 29, 2025), advising Pakistan to give up its “terrorism” as violence can achieve nothing.

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, strongly opposing the central government’s decision to permit offshore mining along the coasts of Kerala, Gujarat, and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

In his letter, Gandhi condemned the move, stating that the tenders for offshore mining were issued without assessing the environmental consequences, sparking widespread protests among coastal communities.

“I strongly condemn the central government’s decision to permit offshore mining… Millions of fisherfolk have expressed grave concerns about its impact on their livelihood and way of life,” Gandhi wrote.

He urged the government to reconsider its stance, demanding the immediate cancellation of the tenders for offshore mining blocks. His letter comes amid ongoing demonstrations by coastal communities who fear the decision could severely impact marine ecosystems and their way of life.

 

The Gorsam Kora festival takes place every year in Zemithang Valley in Tawang district.

This year’s festival, held from March 26 to 29, reflected vibrant cultural celebrations.

The festival, organised by the local community of Zemithang in collaboration with civil authorities and with active support from local Indian Army units, commenced with an invocation led by Thengtse Rinpoche, followed by solemn prayers at the revered Khinzemane Holy Tree, believed to be planted by the 14th Dalai Lama, said a statement released here.

Zemithang holds historical significance as the sanctuary where the 14th Dalai Lama entered Pangchen Valley upon his escape from Tibet in 1959.

At the heart of the festival lies Gorsam Chorten, a majestic 93-foot tall Stupa erected during the 12th century AD by the revered local monk Lama Pradhar.

Older than the renowned Tawang Monastery, Gorsam Chorten is a symbol of Himalayan Buddhism, modelled after the iconic Boudhinath Stupa in Nepal.

Its spiritual counterpart, Chorten Kora in Trashiyangtse of Bhutan, stands across the ridge to the west, constructed in 1740.

Thousands of devotees gathered at the Gorsam Chorten during the festival, marking the auspicious occasion on the last day of the first month of the Lunar calendar, the release said.

During the three-day event, monks conducted sacred mantras and traditional Buddhist rituals at the chorten, attracting pilgrims and Lamas from Bhutan, Tawang and neighbouring regions, fostering camaraderie and cultural exchange.

Approximately 73 civilians from Bhutan, 15 from Nepal and one traveller from Japan utilised the festival for trade, enriching cross-border connections.

The festival boasted a diverse array of events, including captivating performances by local cultural troupes and Indian army bands, as well as martial displays such as Mallakhamb and Zanjh Pathaka.

The Zemithang Valley, with many villages nominated under the Central government’s Vibrant Village Programme, also witnessed various community engagement activities like medical camps during the festival.

This year’s festival was celebrated under the theme of ‘Zero Waste Festival,’ with a focus on cleanliness drives organised by the Further and Beyond Foundation, in collaboration with the Indian Army and local administration, showcasing a commitment to environmental sustainability alongside cultural festivities.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.

The deaths came in a gun battle in the forested area of the southern Jammu region.

At least four police officers and two suspected rebels have been killed during a gun battle in the India-administered territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

The Indian army’s Rising Star Corps said on social media on Saturday morning that “relentless operations” had led to the “elimination of two terrorists” – a term usually referring to rebels opposed to Indian rule in Kashmir.

“We have recovered bodies of three policemen and have also spotted the body of another cop and two militants lying in the forest,” the official, who did not want to be named because he was not authorised to speak to the media, told the Reuters news agency.

Arms and ammunition, including two grenades, a bulletproof jacket, empty shells and some magazines of assault rifles were also recovered from the area, the official said.

For decades, rebel groups have fought security officials in the region, resulting in a death toll in the thousands. But in recent years, violence has tapered off.

Still, according to government data, at least 14 security personnel were killed in such fighting in the first half of 2024, and at least 30 were killed in 2023.

Latest clashes

The latest bout of fighting in the region began on Thursday in the forested area near the city of Kathua in the southern region of Jammu, near India’s border with Pakistan, after a police foot patrol was ambushed while searching for fighters, police chief Nalin Prabhat told reporters on Friday night.

The police chief accused the rebels, who were believed to have escaped a cordon by security forces four days earlier, of being from Pakistan, without elaborating.

“We will not sleep till we stop such activities of our neighbour,” Prabhat said, referring to Pakistan.

The Muslim-majority Kashmir has been at the core of more than 70 years of hostility between India and Pakistan, with both countries claiming complete control over the region.

But India regularly accuses Pakistan of pushing fighters across the heavily militarised unofficial border in Kashmir to attack Indian security forces.

However, Pakistan denies the allegations, saying it only supports Kashmir’s fight for self-determination.

Rebel groups have also been fighting for decades to demand either independence for Kashmir or to merge with Pakistan.

But since 2019, the region has bubbled in anger after New Delhi ended Kashmir’s semi-autonomy and curbed dissent, civil liberties and media freedoms while at the same time increasing counterinsurgency operations.

In November last year, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi backed the decision to revoke Jammu and Kashmir’s partial autonomy after the territory’s newly elected lawmakers sought restoration.

“Only the constitution of Babasaheb Ambedkar will operate in Kashmir … No power in the world can restore Article 370 (partial autonomy) in Kashmir,” Modi said, referring to one of the founding fathers of the Indian constitution.

People stand near a damaged construction site of a high-rise building in Bangkok, Thailand, on March 29, 2025, as rescuers search for victims following its collapse after the earthquake on March 28, 2025.
| Photo Credit: AP

Indian CEO Ajay Mahajan initially thought it was something to do with the air pressure in the tyres of his car. Moments later, he realised that the entire bridge over which he was travelling was swaying.

Mr. Mahajan, who heads Aditya Birla Chemicals Thailand, had just left a lunch meeting Friday (March 28, 2025) in Bangkok when a 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck neighbouring Myanmar, sending tremors across Thailand.

Myanmar earthquake: Follow LIVE updates on March 29, 2025

The earthquake, with its epicentre in Mandalay city, struck at midday at a depth of 10km, according to the United States Geological Survey. The powerful tremor left at least 144 dead and 730 injured in Myanmar.

In Thailand, at least three people died and dozens were buried when an under-construction skyscraper collapsed in Bangkok following the powerful earthquake, according to the Bangkok Post.

When the tremors of the earthquake were felt in Bangkok, Mr. Mahajan had just left a lunch meeting and was on a bridge in the Thai capital.

In an interview with PTI Videos, he recalled the unsettling moment when the earthquake hit.

“Our car was swaying…I said what is happening? Is there enough air pressure in the car tyres, or not? And then I saw other cars in front of me swaying,” he told PTI Videos.

“That is the time when I saw the whole bridge swinging,” he added.

Mr. Mahajan said he saw a lot of people rushing out from their offices when his car came down the bridge, “And that is when we realised that there was an earthquake.”

Emphasising the severity of the quake, Mahajan said, “In hindsight, Bangkok was just lucky—this was a massive earthquake.” Mr. Mahajan said he feared for the factory, worried about his family, and wondered if everyone was safe.

Also Read | India sends 15 tonnes of relief material to earthquake-hit Myanmar

“We run a chemical factory and we have to be very careful that everything was okay and there was no structural damage,” he said.

He added that the Thai government issued a lot of circulars urging people to prepare for aftershocks, especially those living in multi-storey buildings.

Patralekha Chatterjee, a journalist currently based in Thailand, said in an interview with PTI Videos that “everything is swaying”.

Initially attributing it to vertigo, she realised it was an earthquake when she went to her balcony and saw everybody from her apartment downstairs.

Also Read | Myanmar earthquake: India’s National Centre for Seismology says soil liquefaction caused severe damage

Grabbing her phone, she ran down the stairs. She said that from what she saw, there were no “actual damages and injuries” in her immediate neighbourhood.

Ms. Chatterjee noted that it was heartening to see people supporting one another in that moment.

Talking about the civic sense in the people, she said, “There was all this crowd, but nobody pushed. Nobody shouts.”

She added that while there was some panic, it didn’t lead to people prioritising themselves over others or pushing through at others’ expense.

Explained | Science behind powerful earthquake in Myanmar, Thailand

“Coming from India, I think that they are very considerate people…How a society is during non-disaster times will show also during an extreme (event), something like this,” she said.

She explained that if people are generally chaotic and self-centred in normal situations, they don’t suddenly become disciplined during a crisis.

Speaking after an urgent meeting in Phuket, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra called for calm from the public after the quake shook the country, according to the Bangkok Post.

In Myanmar, the head of the country’s military government Senior Gen Min Aung Hlaing said that the death toll and injuries are expected to rise.