Embers in the air: On wildfires in the Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu
Wildfires in the Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu and adjoining forest areas have intensified due to high heat, strong winds, and accumulated biomass, requiring intervention from the Indian Air Force. The fires, which occur seasonally from February to May, were exacerbated this year by human activities, including controlled burns, livelihood practices, and possible deliberate ignitions. While authorities implemented preventive measures, long-term management remains challenging due to climate variability and socio-economic dependencies on forest resources.
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The Nilgiris district in Tamil Nadu and the adjoining forest divisions of Mudumalai, Coimbatore and Erode have been dealing with wildfires that escalated to being a crisis requiring the assistance of the Indian Air Force. Even so, the intense fires are not anomalous, but an acute manifestation of a seasonal event. Parsons Valley and Pykara in the Nilgiris have been worst-hit while significant blazes were also reported from the Singara and Masinagudi ranges. One major blaze broke out in Wenlock Downs and spread rapidly. February to May is fire season in this region, and in April, officials said that high heat and strong winds created a “conducive environment”; the wind, in particular, carried embers over pre-existing firelines and partly explains why this season has been a breakout.
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