Kailash Bhatt, a daily wage worker for the Forest Department and a resident of Ghanely village in Hawalbagh, Almora, still sheds tears when he remembers June 13. On this fateful day, Kailash, along with seven other forest workers, was severely burned while trying to extinguish a raging forest fire in Binsar. Sadly, six of the workers lost their lives, while Kailash and another colleague survived after undergoing treatment.
Kailash recalls receiving information about a fire near the Shiva Temple in the Binsar Sanctuary that day. He, along with a forest guard and seven other employees, was on patrol duty. Upon reaching the spot, they found the fire spreading rapidly, and despite their efforts to control it, they were soon surrounded by flames. The only resource they had to combat the blaze was tree branches. As the fire started to burn their bodies, they abandoned the branches and ran for their lives. Kailash remembers screaming for water but finding no one around to help. When he regained consciousness, he was in critical condition at Base Hospital. After receiving initial treatment, he was airlifted to Delhi on June 14, 2024, and returned home on September 21, 2024, after completing his treatment.
Disappointment Over Unfulfilled Government Promises
Kailash’s family told him that several senior officials, including Cabinet Minister Rekha Arya, visited him after the incident and made several promises of assistance. However, not a single promise has been fulfilled to this day. The only financial help he received was ₹47,000 raised by departmental employees and ₹25,000 from a trust. Kailash’s pain deepens as he says that since his return from Delhi, no officials have visited to check on him, despite promises of regular care.
Worrying About His Family’s Future
Once active in protecting trees and wildlife in the forest, Kailash is now bedridden and deeply concerned about his family’s future. He has two children—a daughter who is married and a son who is still studying. With no other source of income, he remains distressed. Having started his job as a daily wage worker for the Forest Department in 1994, Kailash appeals to the department to regularize his employment so that his family can receive some support during these difficult times.
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Retired Forest Department employee RD Bhatt, a neighbor of Kailash, expressed anger over the Binsar incident. He demanded that the families of the forest workers who perished or were severely injured in the line of duty should receive benefits similar to those provided to soldiers. Bhatt emphasized that people who gave everything for their duty should not be left to suffer in such conditions.
Pradeep Dhaulakhandi, DFO Binsar, stated that the department is fully committed to supporting the victims of the Binsar fire tragedy. He assured that department employees took care of Kailash while he was hospitalized, and they continue to remain in touch with him regularly.
News Source – Amar Ujala
