Over the decades, relentless deforestation and unchecked construction have turned Nainital’s once verdant landscapes into tinderboxes
Summers were harsh this year. Fire rained from the skies. Cities were burning. So were the mountains.My first holiday to the mountains was in the summer of 1970. We boarded the train in the evening, excited about the trip.
The first glimpse of the distant mountains the next morning kept us awake for the remaining journey, as the faint outlines turned prominent.The bus ride from the railway station was equally exciting. Sometimes we travelled hugging the mountains, and at other times we looked down with fear, as the bus moved literally at the edge of the road.