Following distorted news being spread on the social media about forest fires in Uttarakhand, the State Forest department has clarified the situation while the police have warned citizens to beware of such fake news.  In the past few days, new was spread on the social media along with file photographs claiming that the forests in Uttarakhand are on fire. This elicited response and shares from some celebrities and other citizens too.

 On Wednesday, the principal chief conservator of forests, Jai Raj clarified that the information in such social media posts was distorted. The pictures shared with such claims were old and in some cases, of forest fires in foreign countries.

The PCCF said that though forest fires are an annual feature in Uttarakhand, compared to the previous year only about 6.5 per cent of the state’s forests had been affected by forest fires so far this year.  The situation is not alarming and under control with departmental staff alert and out in the field to keep such incidents under control. Requesting citizens to not fall for such fake news, he also warned that legal action could be taken against those spreading such fake news. Additionally, the PCCF also appointed chief conservator of forests, Parag Madhukar Dhakate the department’s social media in-charge to put forward the correct information for the public on social media.

It will be recalled that on Sunday, the chief secretary Utpal Kumar Singh had informed that so far there had been 46 forest fire incidents that had affected 51 hectare land area in the state. However, this statistic was presented in a distorted manner on the social media to present a devastating and false picture.

 The director general (Law and Order) Ashok Kumar said that in such fake reports shared on the social media, most of the photographs dated back to 2016-17 while some were of incidents in foreign countries. He warned the citizens to beware of such fake news, adding that some people were also trying to raise money on the basis of such distorted posts.  Legal action will be taken, FIR will be lodged and if needed, the guilty will also be arrested if such fake news in spread on the social media, he warned.