With mercury soaring high as many as 378 forest fires have broken out in different parts of hilly areas due to inflammable parched pine needles, following dry weather. Himachal Pradesh has 3,000 hectare areas under fire with as many as 378 fires in different parts of the state but there was no major loss. Himachal had adopted Centrally Sponsored ‘Intensive Forest Management Scheme’ and the task of creating fire lanes and deputing the ‘Fire Watcher’ is being done under it. Under the contingency plan two cement companies are already purchasing pine needles and efforts are being made to persuade other cement manufacturers to buy the same in bulk as these are used in the furnace. The Fire Department had made preparations in advance with existing fire lanes cleared and new ones created by March. 750 local fire watchers were deputed by 15th April to immediately inform about any fire incident in the forests. Satellite links have been provided and alerts are sent to concerned forest guards and other forest officials about fire incidents within their jurisdiction. In the neighbouring Uttarakhand forest fires have destroyed about 2,269 hectares of jungles in several districts and claimed at least seven lives till now. The Centre has formulated a contingency plan for dealing with such crisis. Till 21st April, a total of 20,667 incidents of forest fires have taken place. In 2015, the total number of forest fire incidents were 15,937. Jammu and Kashmir too has vast dry forest covers and the temperatures are also at 40 plus, ideal for any tragedy. With poor infrastructure and connectivity disaster management in the State has remained always wanting under such circumstance. If any incident of such magnitude as being faced by Himachal or Uttarkhand takes place will the State be able to cope up with it?