{"id":1268,"date":"2026-09-08T23:28:23","date_gmt":"2026-09-08T23:28:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/webmediamall.com\/index.php\/2026\/09\/08\/unicorn778-women-on-the-frontlines-of-uttarakhand-forest-fires-peluang-terburuk-saat-bermain-slot-online\/"},"modified":"2026-09-08T23:28:23","modified_gmt":"2026-09-08T23:28:23","slug":"unicorn778-women-on-the-frontlines-of-uttarakhand-forest-fires-peluang-terburuk-saat-bermain-slot-online","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/webmediamall.com\/index.php\/2026\/09\/08\/unicorn778-women-on-the-frontlines-of-uttarakhand-forest-fires-peluang-terburuk-saat-bermain-slot-online\/","title":{"rendered":"UNICORN778 Women on the frontlines of Uttarakhand forest fires Peluang Terburuk Saat Bermain Slot Online"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div id=\"post-329123\">&#13;<\/p>\n<div class=\"bulletpoints-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"bulletpoints\">\n<ul>\n<li><em>Uttarakhand is the most fire-prone state in the Indian Western Himalayas, where wildfire seasons are expanding \u2014 and women are taking the lead on fighting fires in their communities.<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>Traditional gender roles assigning household and caregiving work to women is a reason why women are first responders to fire.<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>In addition, many men have left rural villages in Uttarakhand to search for opportunities elsewhere; women often stay behind for agriculture and feel obliged to protect their land and animals.<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>Despite a lack of formal employment, equipment and support for their firefighting work, Uttarakhand women successfully work to stop fires at their source, protecting their villages from hazard.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p><button class=\"content-expander\"><span>See All Key Ideas<\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>&#13;<\/p>\n<p>In the village forests of Uttarakhand, in the Himalayan region of northern India, a tree can be charred at its base while maintaining a green canopy at its peak. The distinct separation between burnt and unburnt wood is a physical marker of how high the flames reached. For the local women who rely on these woods for survival, the aftermath of wildfire means their daily chores take twice as long, forcing them deeper into the forest just to gather basic fodder and firewood when those closer to home are unusable.<\/p>\n<p>Uttarakhand is the most <a href=\"https:\/\/india.mongabay.com\/2026\/06\/rising-temperatures-not-just-human-activity-drives-himalayan-forest-fires\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">fire-prone state<\/a> in the Indian Western Himalayas, with <a href=\"https:\/\/www-sciencedirect-com.colorado.idm.oclc.org\/science\/article\/pii\/S0012825226000607\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">increased fire incidence in the region<\/a> coinciding with high-altitude warming that exceeds the global rate. Beyond individual fire events, the fire season itself is expanding. While <a href=\"https:\/\/www.globalforestwatch.org\/dashboards\/country\/IND\/35\/?category=fires\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">the season<\/a> usually lasts for about 12 weeks starting in mid-March, Uttarakhand now experiences winter fires, an alarming shift from what was previously snow season, hinting at a deeper <a href=\"https:\/\/india.mongabay.com\/2026\/02\/how-frequent-forest-fires-can-lead-to-ecosystem-changes\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">ecosystem-level impact.<\/a> This trend has only escalated, with the state recording a sharp spike in forest fire activity during <a href=\"https:\/\/science.iirs.gov.in\/uttarakhand-forest-fire-activities-and-burned-area-assessment-2026\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">the first four months of 2026<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>This period is not just witnessed but experienced through each of the human senses. Trails of grey smoke engulf the bright blue sky. Along with the fog-like situation, the air carries soot, sometimes covering the roofs of houses with snow-like ash.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe are all coughing our lungs out; during that time, our eyes are bloodshot, irritated by all the smoke, and it\u2019s hard to breathe in the thick air. Even after days of fire, the firewood smell lingers,\u201d said Tulsi Devi of Ayarpani village in Almora district.<\/p>\n<p>While everyone endures the season, women predominate at the frontlines, fighting fires in Uttarakhand.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_329130\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/08160820\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-07-23-at-5.57.01-PM.jpeg\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-329130\" src=\"https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/08160820\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-07-23-at-5.57.01-PM.jpeg\" alt=\"A stark divide in the forest of Almora, between brown, scorched trees and surviving green canopy marks where the massive forest fire was finally contained.\" width=\"1280\" height=\"960\" srcset=\"https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/08160820\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-07-23-at-5.57.01-PM.jpeg 1280w, https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/08160820\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-07-23-at-5.57.01-PM-768x576.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/08160820\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-07-23-at-5.57.01-PM-1200x900.jpeg 1200w, https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/08160820\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-07-23-at-5.57.01-PM-610x458.jpeg 610w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A stark divide in the forest of Almora, between brown, scorched trees and surviving green canopy marks where a large forest fire was finally contained. Image by Swati Thapa.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_329131\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/08161104\/forest-in-Almora-district.jpg\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-329131\" src=\"https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/08161104\/forest-in-Almora-district.jpg\" alt=\"Smoke envelopes a forest in Almora district.\" width=\"1536\" height=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/08161104\/forest-in-Almora-district.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/08161104\/forest-in-Almora-district-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/08161104\/forest-in-Almora-district-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/08161104\/forest-in-Almora-district-350x233.jpg 350w, https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/08161104\/forest-in-Almora-district-610x407.jpg 610w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Smoke envelops a forest in Almora district, an increasingly common and devastating sight during Uttarakhand\u2019s dry season. Image by Swati Thapa.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2><strong>First responders born out of convention<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/kavya-pandey-6a29a3202\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">Kavya Pandey<\/a>, a researcher at the <a href=\"https:\/\/cwsindia.org\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">Centre for Wildlife Studies<\/a> in Bangalore who has worked extensively on the relationship between women in Uttarakhand and forest fires, notes that traditional gender roles assigning household and caregiving work to women are why women are usually the first responders to wildfire. Since women\u2019s daily labor keeps them in the forest for hours collecting firewood and fodder, they become, by default, the first line of defense.<\/p>\n<p>Fighting fires can differ for both genders. To combat fires, the state forest department hires seasonal fire watchers, who are mostly men. Authorities also call women to help, but unlike men, they are rarely paid. Other than that, if fires occur at night, men often accompany women because of the danger from wild animals; but even in a group, the number of women is typically higher than that of men.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf a woman sees fire anywhere, and she does not have a phone, she calls out to others by ululating or whistling, and all the women go together to snuff the fire,\u201d said Kamla Devi, head of the Marhmanley village <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fao.org\/4\/XII\/0108-C1.htm\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">van panchayat<\/a>, a community-managed village forest council that is unique to Uttarakhand.<\/p>\n<p>Large-scale male migration compounds women\u2019s role as firefighters. As climate change impacts agriculture with erratic rainfall, cloudbursts and drying water sources, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/publication\/351626222_Out-migration_in_Uttarakhand_Himalaya_its_types_reasons_and_consequences\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">men out-migrate<\/a> in search of better opportunities. Research reveals that hundreds of villages in Uttarakhand are now depopulated, with many considered \u201cghost villages,\u201d while hundreds more have lost half their population \u2013 mostly men, while women often stay behind for farming. Marhmanley reflects this pattern: Most of its men have left for the cities, leaving behind women, elders and children.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWith many migrating, fewer people are left to protect the village. The women who remain often have young children to look after, so they cannot leave,\u201d Kamla said.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_329133\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/08161713\/kamla-and-lila.jpg\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-329133\" src=\"https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/08161713\/kamla-and-lila.jpg\" alt=\"Kamla Devi, left, holds a mattock while Lila Devi displays a jhapa (firebroom) made from fresh green leaves, used on the front lines to beat back forest fires.\" width=\"1536\" height=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/08161713\/kamla-and-lila.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/08161713\/kamla-and-lila-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/08161713\/kamla-and-lila-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/08161713\/kamla-and-lila-350x233.jpg 350w, https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/08161713\/kamla-and-lila-610x407.jpg 610w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Kamla Devi, left, holds a mattock while Lila Devi displays a <em>jhapa<\/em> (firebroom) made from fresh green leaves, used on the frontlines to beat back forest fires. Image by Swati Thapa.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Deeply ingrained gender expectations also enforce these firefighting duties. Pandey argues that narratives framing women as natural protectors driven by \u201cmaternal instinct\u201d have conditioned them to feel solely responsible.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEven if there is a man when a fire breaks out, the man would scream, \u2018<em>Oh Basanti ki Ijja <\/em>[Hey Basanti\u2019s mother], there\u2019s a fire,\u2019 but what else would they do? How else will they tend their cattle?\u201d said Kavya, explaining that it still remains a woman\u2019s role to deal with fire.<\/p>\n<p>This has always been the case, but firefighting is growing more difficult and more dangerous as fires expand with a shifting climate.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Higher stakes for women<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Forest fires disrupt nearly every aspect of women\u2019s lives. Around 71%<a href=\"https:\/\/uaoa.gov.in\/sites\/default\/files\/2025-08\/Uttarakhand%20Forest%20Fire%20Management%20Model%20%E2%80%93%20SOP.pdf\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\"> of the total geographical area<\/a> of Uttarakhand is forest area, supplying basic needs like drinking water, firewood and fodder for cattle grazing. With men working in cities, cattle rearing is one of the few ways rural women generate income.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cForests are our everything. With active fires, we cannot even take our animals to graze. They stay tied in their sheds for days,\u201d said Asha Devi of Bhetuli village.<\/p>\n<p>Beyond daily chores, fires threaten homes and property. Most villages sit in close proximity to the forest. Marhmanley is one example, where houses are scattered along the hill\u2019s incline. This positioning makes vigilance essential.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe always keep a lookout for fires. We are afraid that if rocks roll down from the hill or if trees burn and fall downwards to the village, we have to protect trees and plants even if they are a distance away,\u201d Kamla said.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_329137\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/08162953\/Women-walking-uttarakhand.jpg\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-329137\" src=\"https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/08162953\/Women-walking-uttarakhand.jpg\" alt=\"Women walking through the scorched forest in Uttarakhand\" width=\"1536\" height=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/08162953\/Women-walking-uttarakhand.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/08162953\/Women-walking-uttarakhand-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/08162953\/Women-walking-uttarakhand-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/08162953\/Women-walking-uttarakhand-350x233.jpg 350w, https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/08162953\/Women-walking-uttarakhand-610x407.jpg 610w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Women walking through the scorched forest in Uttarakhand. Image by Swati Thapa.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2><strong>Destruction and physical expense<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Irrespective of age, when the forests burn, women run to extinguish them. Lila Devi, 70, still picks up her sickle to join the effort. \u201c<em>Amma <\/em>[Granny] might look old, but she still runs like a goat on a hil,\u201d Kamla laughed.<\/p>\n<p>Women head out in groups, spacing themselves along the fire\u2019s path in a chain to curb the flames faster and prevent embers or falling pine cones from spreading the blaze. Their main tool is a simple household sickle. Asha explained that they use sickles to cut green branches to make makeshift firebrooms (<em>jhapa<\/em>) to smother ground fires.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen the flames are not too high, we use jhapa to beat back the fire. If they are [high], we clear a fireline instead; some of us push the fire back toward the already-burnt ground, while others use their sickle to pull away dry grass and twigs so it has nothing left to catch on,\u201d Asha said.<\/p>\n<p>A team of 10 can take an hour to tamp out a small fire, while a large fire means fighting flames all day. Long hours with limited tools and no protection leave many injured. Burnt hands, singed eyebrows and eyelashes are common.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_329139\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/08163349\/Trees-charred-on-the-bottom.jpg\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-329139\" src=\"https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/08163349\/Trees-charred-on-the-bottom.jpg\" alt=\"Trees charred on the bottom with green leaves on top. \" width=\"1536\" height=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/08163349\/Trees-charred-on-the-bottom.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/08163349\/Trees-charred-on-the-bottom-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/08163349\/Trees-charred-on-the-bottom-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/08163349\/Trees-charred-on-the-bottom-350x233.jpg 350w, https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/08163349\/Trees-charred-on-the-bottom-610x407.jpg 610w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Trees charred on the bottom with green leaves on top, a sign of how high the fire was. Image by Swati Thapa.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cWe fall and hit ourselves against rocks, but we don\u2019t care for our well-being in that minute \u2014 all we care about is the forest. If it burns, what will our cattle eat?\u201d Kamla said.<\/p>\n<p>Safety guidelines recommend protective equipment, but local women rarely have access to it, and highly flammable synthetic nylon sarees remain common. Although Kamla advises wearing cotton clothes and proper shoes, the urgency leaves no time to change.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe just run to the forest as we are. One year, my feet got severely burnt because we sometimes even found ourselves running with no slippers on. At the end of a shift, many of us are pricked by thorns,\u201d Kamla said.<\/p>\n<p>The danger escalates at night. Women lose sleep to keep watch over their homes and property, especially since many store stacks of dry hay near their houses. Asha<strong>,<\/strong> who lives half a kilometer from forests, has to guard the jungle at night.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re scared for ourselves and our belongings. Last year, in November, a fire broke out at night. My son fell asleep, so I had to put it out alone. Two of my grass stacks burnt down,\u201d Asha said.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_329134\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/08162105\/log-from-a-local-oak-tree.jpg\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-329134\" src=\"https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/08162105\/log-from-a-local-oak-tree.jpg\" alt=\"Born from the very woods they died protecting, a log from a local oak tree commemorates the memory of the four fire-watchers lost in the Binsar tragedy.\" width=\"1536\" height=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/08162105\/log-from-a-local-oak-tree.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/08162105\/log-from-a-local-oak-tree-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/08162105\/log-from-a-local-oak-tree-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/08162105\/log-from-a-local-oak-tree-350x233.jpg 350w, https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/08162105\/log-from-a-local-oak-tree-610x407.jpg 610w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Born from the very woods they died protecting, a log from a local oak tree commemorates the fire watchers lost in the Binsar tragedy. Image by Swati Thapa.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2><strong>Lifelong battles<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Meena Bhoj sits on her bed, hands clasped tightly in her lap, her mind elsewhere. Her youngest of the three keeps popping up at the window beside her, calling out \u2018mummy\u2019 then ducking away again, giggling, waiting for her to look. Each time she does, Meena smiles back with her lips closed, careful not to show the tooth she chipped two years ago, on a firefighting run.<\/p>\n<p>In June 2024, Meena spotted a fire across her home at 10 p.m. To save harvested pine needles meant for animal bedding, she and three other women, along with her brother-in-law, headed up the dark hill. After hours of work, the fire was put out. With only one flashlight between them, Meena navigated the steep descent alone.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI was running down because there are leopards in the forest. I wanted to reach safety as quickly as I could. But I tripped,\u201d Meena recalled.<\/p>\n<p>She fell face-forward into a ditch, hitting her chest, cutting it and chipping her tooth.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI was bleeding and in pain, but all I could do was go home and sleep it off,\u201d Meena said.<\/p>\n<p>She woke up with a swollen face and could not eat for days. Later, she had to undergo minor surgery on her chest. However, this was the least of her concerns.<\/p>\n<p>Meena\u2019s husband, Bhuvan Bhoj, was working as a fire watcher with the forest department. The day after Meena\u2019s injury, Bhuvan was among the few who survived <a href=\"https:\/\/india.mongabay.com\/2024\/08\/uttarakhand-forests-burn-while-fire-guards-face-outstanding-salaries-and-lack-of-resources\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">the Binsar fire tragedy<\/a>, where six people died. Bhuvan still works with the forest department as a driver. \u201cI am now disabled because of my injury; with these injuries, I cannot take up any job either,\u201d Bhuvan said.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_329132\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/08161504\/Bhuvan-Bhoj.jpg\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-329132\" src=\"https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/08161504\/Bhuvan-Bhoj.jpg\" alt=\"Bhuvan shows the severe scars on his hands from the Binsar fire tragedy.\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/08161504\/Bhuvan-Bhoj.jpg 768w, https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/08161504\/Bhuvan-Bhoj-610x813.jpg 610w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Bhuvan Bhoj shows the severe scars on his hands from the Binsar fire tragedy. Despite multiple reconstructive surgeries, he still endures chronic pain. Image by Swati Thapa.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Meena is still haunted by bad dreams. Anytime she talks about the incident, her heart starts pounding. Despite the trauma, the couple still works against forest fires.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI am scared of fire, but I am not scared for me; I am scared for him. I am constantly anxious when he goes to work. I call him multiple times a day to remind him not to get close to the fire,\u201d Meena said as she looked down at her hands, trying to calm herself.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Policy disconnect<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The trauma and lack of support have shifted perspectives for some.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNow we just [extinguish] fires near our house, and we let the forest burn. Why should we risk our lives? Look what happened to Bhuvan and his family; did they get any compensation?\u201d Chameli Devi, a 60-year-old living a few houses away from Meena, said angrily.<\/p>\n<p>Bhuvan has yet to receive the 10 lakh rupees ($10,500) in compensation announced by Uttarakhand\u2019s chief minister, a delay that has shaken villagers\u2019 trust.<\/p>\n<p>Binsar forest ranger Manoj Sanwal acknowledged the fire crisis, but stressed that the department is overburdened and underfunded. Though <a href=\"https:\/\/moef.gov.in\/uploads\/pdf-uploads\/pdf_68a4157b8b3d38.38401489.pdf\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">national policies<\/a> allow support from police and disaster response forces, in practice, liability falls on forest staff, leaving unpaid local women to shoulder the burden.<\/p>\n<p>Ironically, in regions where women perform the bulk of physical labor of firefighting, in practice, few are formally employed \u2014 unlike men.\u00a0Seasonal fire watchers hired by the department are typically men; as reasons, officials cite\u00a0safety and terrain, commenting\u00a0that sarees make fieldwork risky. Despite being on the frontlines, women remain largely invisible in policy, rarely compensated, equipped or included in decision-making bodies.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_329136\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/08162811\/Metal-rakes-used-by-the-forest-department.jpg\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-329136\" src=\"https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/08162811\/Metal-rakes-used-by-the-forest-department.jpg\" alt=\"Metal rakes used by the forest department in the Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary.\" width=\"1536\" height=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/08162811\/Metal-rakes-used-by-the-forest-department.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/08162811\/Metal-rakes-used-by-the-forest-department-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/08162811\/Metal-rakes-used-by-the-forest-department-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/08162811\/Metal-rakes-used-by-the-forest-department-350x233.jpg 350w, https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/08162811\/Metal-rakes-used-by-the-forest-department-610x407.jpg 610w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Metal rakes used by the forest department in the Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary. Twisted and damaged by intense heat, dozens of these tools are rendered useless after every fire season. Image by Swati Thapa.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Under the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pib.gov.in\/PressNoteDetails.aspx?NoteId=153994&amp;ModuleId=3&amp;reg=48&amp;lang=2\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">Forest Fire Prevention &amp; Management Scheme<\/a>, India introduced the National Action Plan on Forest Fire that incorporated a satellite-based system for timely detection and monitoring of forest fires. During peak fire seasons, operations rely on <a href=\"https:\/\/moef.gov.in\/uploads\/pdf-uploads\/pdf_68a4157b8b3d38.38401489.pdf\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">interdepartmental support<\/a> from police and fire departments to national disaster response forces. They also lean on local communities, for hiring seasonal fire watchers. Despite provisions like mandated female representation on van panchayat boards, women remain excluded due to systemic awareness gaps. Laxmi Kharayat, a field trainer with <a href=\"https:\/\/thpindia.org\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">The Hunger Project<\/a> explained how many women were not even aware that they were van panchayat heads of their villages.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEven though the women were not aware, we still found documents that were signed under their name; proxy leadership by husbands of the women is a common theme,\u201d Laxmi said.<\/p>\n<p>Globally, the intersection of gender and wildfire management remains underrepresented even in academia, with wildfire considered a \u201cmanly\u201d issue and the connection between \u201cgender and wildfires\u201d an under-explored topic in many<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S0743016724003577\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\"> international forestry forums<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_329138\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/08163129\/Charred-trunk.jpg\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-329138\" src=\"https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/08163129\/Charred-trunk.jpg\" alt=\"Charred trunk of a pine tree in Helpiya village in Pithoragarh district. \" width=\"1536\" height=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/08163129\/Charred-trunk.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/08163129\/Charred-trunk-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/08163129\/Charred-trunk-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/08163129\/Charred-trunk-350x233.jpg 350w, https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/08163129\/Charred-trunk-610x407.jpg 610w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Charred trunk of a pine tree in Helpiya village in Pithoragarh district. Image by Swati Thapa.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2><strong>Representation matters<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Where women hold real authority, prevention works. Since more than <a href=\"https:\/\/dfe.gov.in\/uploads\/documents\/field-manual-english.pdf\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">95% of forest fires in India are human-made,<\/a> Kamla organized local women to stop fires at the source through vigilance, community dialogue and practical strategy.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe no longer let anyone start an unsupervised fire. Before, people burned brush haphazardly, but now we insist on planning. We show them where and how to set small, controlled burns,\u201d Kamla said.<\/p>\n<p>By stepping in to hold their community accountable, the women said they have kept the village free of major blazes for three consecutive years \u2014 showing that real mitigation starts at the ground level.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThese trees give us everything we need,\u201d Kamla smiled, looking toward the forested hills. \u201cWe are here because of them.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Banner image:<\/strong> Lila Devi uses a traditional sickle to demonstrate how locals craft a <\/em>jhapa <em>(firebroom). Image by Swati Thapa.<\/em><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"Zc9p89F2fx\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/news.mongabay.com\/2025\/04\/uttarakhands-extreme-weather-wreaks-havoc-on-crops-livelihoods-futures\/\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\">Uttarakhand\u2019s extreme weather wreaks havoc on crops, livelihoods &amp; futures<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"\u201cUttarakhand\u2019s extreme weather wreaks havoc on crops, livelihoods &amp; futures\u201d \u2014 Conservation news\" src=\"https:\/\/news.mongabay.com\/2025\/04\/uttarakhands-extreme-weather-wreaks-havoc-on-crops-livelihoods-futures\/embed\/#?secret=NGQX2iCLVc#?secret=Zc9p89F2fx\" data-secret=\"Zc9p89F2fx\" width=\"500\" height=\"282\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"iuGpuMyVY1\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/news.mongabay.com\/2024\/05\/on-a-borneo-mountainside-indigenous-dayak-women-hold-fire-and-defend-forest\/\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\">On a Borneo mountainside, Indigenous Dayak women hold fire and defend forest<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"\u201cOn a Borneo mountainside, Indigenous Dayak women hold fire and defend forest\u201d \u2014 Conservation news\" src=\"https:\/\/news.mongabay.com\/2024\/05\/on-a-borneo-mountainside-indigenous-dayak-women-hold-fire-and-defend-forest\/embed\/#?secret=0UedghqDXL#?secret=iuGpuMyVY1\" data-secret=\"iuGpuMyVY1\" width=\"500\" height=\"282\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"eCVv1vJPm9\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/news.mongabay.com\/2026\/07\/the-women-leading-a-quiet-conservation-revolution-in-a-nigerian-gorilla-sanctuary\/\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\">The women leading a quiet conservation revolution in a Nigerian gorilla sanctuary<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"\u201cThe women leading a quiet conservation revolution in a Nigerian gorilla sanctuary\u201d \u2014 Conservation news\" src=\"https:\/\/news.mongabay.com\/2026\/07\/the-women-leading-a-quiet-conservation-revolution-in-a-nigerian-gorilla-sanctuary\/embed\/#?secret=d99qTdMAbt#?secret=eCVv1vJPm9\" data-secret=\"eCVv1vJPm9\" width=\"500\" height=\"282\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<div id=\"single-article-footer\">\n<div id=\"cite-article\" class=\"align-left banner bg-brand-color crossref-doi outlined ph--16 pv--16\">\n<h2>Cite this article<\/h2>\n<p><span class=\"crossref-doi\">Swati Thapa (2026). Sickles, sarees and smoke: Women on the frontlines of Uttarakhand forest fires. Mongabay Conservation news. DOI: <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.66709\/news-329123\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">https:\/\/doi.org\/10.66709\/news-329123<\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"container in-column about-editor-translator gap--40 pv--80\">\n<div class=\"container grid--3 repeat gap--40\">\n<div class=\"in-row gap--16\">\n<div class=\"author-avatar\">\n                    <img alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/cd268001eb128610e44d07761ca01cd675285d898b5d3ae6fc5173ede0bd3d93?s=32&amp;d=identicon&amp;r=g\" srcset=\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/cd268001eb128610e44d07761ca01cd675285d898b5d3ae6fc5173ede0bd3d93?s=64&amp;d=identicon&amp;r=g 2x\" class=\"avatar avatar-32 photo\" height=\"32\" width=\"32\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"\/>        <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>&#13;<br \/>\n                            <span class=\"article-comments\"><a href=\"\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\"\/><\/span>&#13;<br \/>\n&#13;<br \/>\n                            &#13;<br \/>\n        &#13;\n                        <\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#13; Uttarakhand is the most fire-prone state in the Indian Western Himalayas, where wildfire seasons&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1269,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[12,1452,443,3142,14,9,11,13,10,2,3143,87],"class_list":["post-1268","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-unicorn778","tag-bermain","tag-fires","tag-forest","tag-frontlines","tag-online","tag-peluang","tag-saat","tag-slot","tag-terburuk","tag-unicorn778","tag-uttarakhand","tag-women"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/webmediamall.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1268","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/webmediamall.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/webmediamall.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/webmediamall.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/webmediamall.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1268"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/webmediamall.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1268\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/webmediamall.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1269"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/webmediamall.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1268"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/webmediamall.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1268"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/webmediamall.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1268"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}