Kashmir’s Forests Burn and So Do Its Protectors.
Kashmir’s Forests
Burn and So Do Its Protectors.
“The tragic death of
a forest worker in Verinag highlights the dangerous reality faced by Kashmir’s
frontline firefighters. Without basic protective gear, training or equipment,
those who protect the forests are left to risk their lives unnecessarily.”
Peerzada Mohsin Shafi
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orest fires have become a recurring global catastrophe that
threatens forests, wildlife, property and human lives. Around the world,
countries have developed strong mechanisms to tackle these fires through
planning, modern technology and most importantly proper safety gear for those
who fight the flames. Nations like the United States, Australia, Canada, Spain
and Greece have placed enormous emphasis on ensuring that every firefighter
entering a burning forest is fully protected. Their teams are equipped with
flame-resistant suits, helmets, heat-resistant gloves, safety goggles,
high-quality fire boots, respirators and communication devices that enable
coordinated and safer operations. These countries also deploy drones to map
active fire zones, thermal imaging cameras to detect hotspots and specially
designed fire-retardant vehicles to reach difficult terrain. Firefighting, by
its nature, is dangerous, yet developed nations significantly reduce fatalities
by investing in advanced protective equipment. Their protocols insist that no
firefighter steps into a blaze without full protective gear and their workers
receive continuous training to ensure they understand how to use this equipment
effectively. This global standard reveals how deeply nations value the safety
of people on the frontline.
India too faces severe forest fires every year, particularly in
regions with dense forest cover such as Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, the
Northeastern states and Jammu and Kashmir. Despite this, the condition of
fire-fighting personnel often remains dire. Many workers from the forest
department are sent to extinguish fires with little more than basic clothing,
no flame-resistant suits, no helmets, no protective eyewear, no gloves and in
many cases not even proper safety boots. Forest fires in India are usually
fought manually with branches, basic beaters and sometimes no tools at all.
While the government allocates funds and issues advisories, the implementation
of safety measures on the ground remains weak. Those who risk their lives are
often contractual or low-paid workers who do not have the authority to demand
better equipment. Their willingness to serve the forests and communities around
them is commendable, yet their safety is rarely prioritized. This negligence
stands in stark contrast to global standards, where safety gear is treated as
the most essential requirement for firefighting. The danger increases during
summer months when dry vegetation turns into a tinderbox and workers in India
are left to face flames, smoke, heat, uneven terrain and falling trees without
adequate protection.
A heartbreaking example that exposes this gap in safety
preparedness is the recent death of a forest employee in the Verinag Range of
Kashmir. The worker, who was part of a team responding to a forest fire,
tragically lost his life due to the severe conditions of the blaze. According
to local accounts, he had no safety equipment beyond basic clothing and was
wearing simple footwear while attempting to control the fire. Without
fire-resistant shoes, he was highly vulnerable to burning embers, collapsing branches
and scorching ground temperatures. Without a helmet, he had no protection from
falling debris. Without flame-retardant clothing, he was exposed to direct
flames and radiant heat. His life might have been saved with something as
simple as proper safety boots and protective clothing. The tragedy was not
caused solely by the fire but by the lack of preventive measures that should
have been provided by the authorities responsible for forest protection. His
death reflects the harsh truth that in Kashmir, forest workers risk their lives
without the minimum tools needed to survive such dangerous situations. It is
not just an unfortunate incident but a preventable loss that raises serious
concerns about the working conditions of frontline forest staff in the region.
The situation in Kashmir is especially alarming because the
region’s terrain is steep, forest density is high and accessibility is limited,
making fires more challenging to control. Workers must climb hills, cross
streams, navigate thick vegetation and work in areas where vehicles cannot
reach, often relying solely on their physical strength. Despite this,
protective gear remains almost non-existent. Forest guards and frontline
employees frequently share stories of going into fires wearing torn shoes, carrying
no gloves and breathing thick smoke without masks. Many say they use their
personal clothing as makeshift protection. The absence of safety gear not only
endangers lives but also reduces the efficiency of firefighting operations.
Workers move slower, take fewer risks and struggle to approach the fire closely
because they know that one wrong step could be fatal. Their bravery is
unquestionable, but bravery alone cannot replace the need for basic safety
standards. When nations around the world have understood that protecting
firefighters is the first step toward protecting forests, Kashmir continues to
send its workers into flames virtually barehanded.
This urgent and dangerous situation calls for a complete
overhaul in how forest fires are handled in India, especially in regions like
Jammu and Kashmir. The government must make the safety of forest workers a core
priority by introducing mandatory protective gear for all personnel who engage
in fire control. Flame-resistant suits, helmets, fire boots, gloves, and smoke
masks are necessities, not luxuries. Even the simplest gear could prevent
severe injuries and save lives, as seen in the Verinag tragedy. Alongside
equipment, the government should also implement regular training programs so
workers know how to approach fires safely, how to use tools, and how to retreat
strategically when the danger increases. Investment in technology such as
drones, heat sensors, and communication devices should be increased to reduce
the amount of physical risk workers face. Moreover, forest staff must be
insured, properly compensated and given recognition as essential frontline
workers. Their contribution to protecting the environment and communities
deserves respect, and that respect must be shown through concrete action.
The death of the forest employee in Verinag must serve as a
turning point. It should remind policymakers that behind every forest fire
headline is a human being on the frontline, risking everything without adequate
support. No worker should have to enter a forest fire wearing basic shoes, no
protective clothing and no assurance of safety. If countries across the world
can prioritize firefighter safety with strict protocols and modern equipment,
there is no reason India cannot do the same. The forests of Kashmir are
precious and so are the people who protect them. Ensuring their safety is not
only a responsibility but a moral duty. Only when their lives are safeguarded
can the fight against forest fires become truly effective and humane.
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