Nagaland: Dzukou Valley wildfire rages for third day; aerial operations expected to begin
Guwahati: A wildfire in Nagaland’s Dzukou Valley continued to burn for the third consecutive day on Saturday, with strong winds spreading flames toward the Japfu mountain range and raising ecological and safety concerns.
Officials said that aerial firefighting operations are expected to begin on Sunday.
The fire, which started on Friday, initially affected around 1.3 square kilometers of forest.
Changing weather and strong winds have caused the blaze to expand across the rugged, inaccessible terrain, according to an official from the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), Kohima.
Following an assessment, the district administration requested a helicopter equipped with a ‘bambi bucket’ from the Indian Air Force through the Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority (NSDMA).
Ground efforts remain limited due to steep slopes, dense vegetation, and the isolated location, which falls under the forest area of Khonoma village, west of Kohima.
Officials and village authorities said that four trekkers accidentally started the fire at a campsite.
The blaze reportedly got out of control while they went to fetch water.
Volunteers from the Khonoma Youth Organisation (KYO) later rescued the trekkers, who admitted to starting the fire.
An aerial survey revealed extensive damage to the virgin forest, as the fire spread in multiple directions.
Drone assessments were not possible due to the difficult terrain. KYO volunteers, along with police, forest, fire, and disaster management teams, are working at the site.
Authorities warned that the fire continues to advance slowly but steadily toward Hophera Thi near the Jotsoma-Khonoma border, with the potential to spread further into remote areas.
Dzukou Valley, renowned for its unique flora, alpine meadows, and treacherous trekking routes, is highly vulnerable to rapidly spreading fires due to its dry vegetation and prevailing weather conditions.
Officials have temporarily banned trekking and urged the public and trekkers to avoid the area until the fire is fully contained.