Dry, Dangerous Winter: Forest Fires Near Nanda Devi Expose Uttarakhand’s Climate Crisis

Uttarakhand is witnessing an unusually dry and dangerous winter, with little to no rain or snowfall triggering early forest fires in high-altitude regions. A major blaze near the Valley of Flowers and the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve has forced authorities to seek aerial firefighting support from the Indian Air Force. Experts warn that the lack of snowfall signals a hydrological drought, threatening glaciers, forests, crops and long-term water security in the Himalayas. NDTV's Gargi Rawat explains how climate change is intensifying fire risks and reshaping life in India’s mountain regions.