The fire that broke out in Dzükou valley range has reportedly been brought under control since it was first noticed around 2 p.m. on December 29. Although the exact cause of the fire was yet to be ascertained, there were speculations that the fire was inadvertently started by some trekkers.
According to Divisional Forest Officer, Kohima Rajkumar M, Kohima forest division along with Southern Angami Youth Organization jointly undertook a major operation to contain forest fire. Over 300 strong contingents were deployed to save the valley, which included forest field staff, SAYO volunteers and SDRF, DEF and 4th NAP personnel. DFO said that they had also contacted National Remote Sensing Agency to get regular update on active fire locations to assist the team.
Speaking to media persons after coming out from the valley, Kohima range forest officer Pezaneinuo Chielie said the volunteers and personnel from various government agencies on Thursday successfully completed a fire line cutting measuring 5 km in length and 2 metres wide in the priority area.
Considering the terrain of the range, she said that fire-line cutting was the only viable option to contain the spread of the fire to the valley. Chielie admitted that there was very little humans could do to douse the fire since there were heavy winds from the south and west fuelling the fire.
She however claimed that the fire was largely under control. The forest department would be conducting a survey to fully assess the total damage caused by the fire, she added.
As per the latest information, Rajkumar also said that the main valley was safe. Over 200 SAYO volunteers were camping in the base camp to monitor and to tackle the situation, he added.
Manipur chief minister, Biren Singh took an aerial survey of the valley in Manipur side on Thursday.
Singh said that the wildfire had already reached Mt. Asli, the highest peak in Manipur. “If the wind direction is going to the southern side, there is also a high possibility of entering the thickest forest called Kozürü in Manipur. Need help,” tweeted Singh.
Ravi urges govt to frame SOP, EWS
DIMAPUR, DEC 31 (NPN): Nagaland Governor, R.N. Ravi has urged the State government to immediately frame an appropriate Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) including satellite-based real time early warning system (EWS) to prevent recurrence of such disaster like Dzükou valley wildfire.
Ravi, who was on a visit to Dzükou valley along with his family on Wednesday, accompanied by DC Kohima, SP Kohima, SAPO and SAYO members, had the first hand assessment of the intensity of the devastating fire in the valley and extent of destruction caused by it, PRO to Governor stated.
Ravi maintained that the absence of a functional SOP to effectively respond to such a disaster had aggravated the situation.
He thanked SAYO volunteers and policemen who, in an extremely adverse ground condition risked their lives to battled the raging fire to contain it from further spreading.
Expressing pain to see parts of the picturesque Dzükou valley and its surroundings being burnt to ashes by unidentified miscreants, RN Ravi said that stern action would be taken against miscreants behind the raging fire that has already engulfed large areas of the valley, Southern Angami Public Organization (SAPO) information and publicity secretary, Kevipopi Ltu said in a press note.
Ltu said that Ravi also urged Southern Angami people to continue looking after protection of Dzükou, which he termed as a “blessing from God”, despite many issues and challenges they faced.
Meanwhile, SAPO sought the State government’s assistance in safeguarding Dzükou Valley and Japfü range, both of which are not only biodiversity resources but watersheds on which people in Southern Angami region and the State Capital are depended.
SAPO also acknowledged the governor who, despite risk factors, did not cancel his plan to visit Dzükou to take stock of the situation.
SAPO appealed to all citizens, organisations and government agencies to come forward to douse the fire and continue supporting the organisation in preserving, protecting and promoting the biodiversity and its resources within its traditional jurisdiction in the future.
Further, Southern Angami would not tolerate any individual or organisation entering Dzükou Valley and it surroundings without permission, the statement asserted.
IAF deploys chopper: Meanwhile, PRO (Defence) Shillong, Wg. Cdr. Ratnakar Singh stated that based on the requisition of Nagaland government, Eastern Air Command of the Indian Air Force Thursday deployed an Mi-17V5 helicopter equipped with Bambi bucket to douse the raging wildfire.
