DEHRADUN: Amid concern over the forest fires in Uttarakhand, the state's Forest Department has taken strict action against 17 employees for negligence in controlling the blaze.

Two of them have been issued show cause notices, four have been attached and 11 employees have been suspended.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has held regular meetings concerning forest fires and expressed the government's determination to deal with the problem.