India, Dec. 11 -- Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Thursday directed the forest department to introduce escort facilities for schoolchildren living in wildlife-affected regions and ordered the immediate removal of the Pauri district forest officer (DFO).

The directives were issued during a detailed review meeting of the forest department held at the state secretariat.

"In areas where the threat of wild animals is high, the Forest Department and district administration must jointly arrange escort facilities for schoolchildren traveling to and from school. We cannot allow children to risk their lives just to reach school. Escort arrangements must be made without delay", Dhami said.

Dhami said preventing loss of human lif...