Air services to Pithoragarh and Munsiyari towns of the border district remained suspended for the second day on Saturday due to reduced visibility around Naini-Saini airport due to smoke rising from burning forests.
Officials said visibility in and around the airport was less than 1,000 metres, which is a minimum of 5,000 meters for air travelers.
SDM Ashish Kumar Mishra said, “Due to the smoke coming from the forest fire, visibility has reduced significantly in Saur Valley, where the airport is located.”
He said, “The smoke rising from the forests in both Pithoragarh and Munsyar is so dense that even the mountain peaks are not visible.”
Mishra said, "Air passengers traveling to Pithoragarh and Haldwani are disappointed with the cancellation of both the services. Efforts are on to extinguish the forest fire to clear the weather."
Air service is operated from Dehradun to Pithoragarh by Fly Big Company aircraft while Heli service is operated by Heritage Aviation Company from Haldwani to Pithoragarh and Munsiyari.
Apart from Saur Valley, fires are raging in the Quirala Valley of Champawa and the forests of Lohaghat, Jhulaghat and Gaurihat.
“We had to be extra careful while moving from Gaurihat towards Jhulaghat as the visibility on the 10 km long road was so low due to smoke from the nearby forest fires that no vehicle was visible for more than 10 meters " Vikram Singh Rawat, a tourist who had gone to Jhulaghat, said.
According to medical officers of community and primary health centers at various places in the district, a large number of patients are coming to hospitals complaining of difficulty in breathing and burning sensation in the eyes.
Jhulaghat PHC in-charge Harish Chandra Rawat said, "These problems are caused by the smoke coming out of the massive forest fire."
Officials said visibility in and around the airport was less than 1,000 metres, which is a minimum of 5,000 meters for air travelers.
SDM Ashish Kumar Mishra said, “Due to the smoke coming from the forest fire, visibility has reduced significantly in Saur Valley, where the airport is located.”
He said, “The smoke rising from the forests in both Pithoragarh and Munsyar is so dense that even the mountain peaks are not visible.”
Mishra said, "Air passengers traveling to Pithoragarh and Haldwani are disappointed with the cancellation of both the services. Efforts are on to extinguish the forest fire to clear the weather."
Air service is operated from Dehradun to Pithoragarh by Fly Big Company aircraft while Heli service is operated by Heritage Aviation Company from Haldwani to Pithoragarh and Munsiyari.
Apart from Saur Valley, fires are raging in the Quirala Valley of Champawa and the forests of Lohaghat, Jhulaghat and Gaurihat.
“We had to be extra careful while moving from Gaurihat towards Jhulaghat as the visibility on the 10 km long road was so low due to smoke from the nearby forest fires that no vehicle was visible for more than 10 meters " Vikram Singh Rawat, a tourist who had gone to Jhulaghat, said.
According to medical officers of community and primary health centers at various places in the district, a large number of patients are coming to hospitals complaining of difficulty in breathing and burning sensation in the eyes.
Jhulaghat PHC in-charge Harish Chandra Rawat said, "These problems are caused by the smoke coming out of the massive forest fire."
