India's Himalayas are on fire due to high temperatures and low rains

Deadly forest fires across India’s Himalayan state of Uttarakhand have burned more than 2,300 hectares of forests and killed six people. The fires started three months ago, but had increased in intensity in the last few days.

While forest fires are an annual summer occurrence in the region, officials say that the increased intensity this year is because of the forests being drier due to unexpectedly high temperatures and low rainfall in the last two years. Others have argued that the fires were started illegally by timber traders.

NDRF personnel douse the flames and conduct rescue operation at Pauri Garhwal District, on April 30, 2016 in Uttarakhand, India.

According to India’s environment minister Prakash Javadekar, 70% of the blazes had been doused by May 2 and their numbers reduced from 1,200 to 60. The National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF), the Indian army, air force and 6,000 fire-fighters are involved in the efforts to save the forests.

http://mashable.com/2016/05/02/india-uttarakhand-forest-fire/#IkLONfQ6skqP