Nagaland: Western Dzükou fire brought under control

Wildfire in Western Dzükou valley has been largely contained after coordinated response involving district authorities, volunteers and emergency agencies, according to officials who conducted an onsite inspection.
Deputy Commissioner (DC) Kohima, B. Henok Buchem, accompanied by SDO (civil) Sechü-Zubza Imliakum, nodal officer Kohima Thejangulie Zao, district commandant home guards, civil defence and SDRF Wopenthung, along with officials from the police, forest department and fire & emergency services, visited the base camp of teams engaged in firefighting operations at Khonoma on December 15.
During the visit, representatives of Khonoma Youth Organisation, SDRF personnel and officials from various departments briefed DC Kohima on the prevailing situation.
They reported that an inspection team had trekked to Western Dzükou earlier in the day and observed smoke emanating from burnt bushes, though no active flames were detected.
The smoke was stated to be contained, with volunteers from Khonoma Youth, SDRF and forest department personnel stationed at the site for continuous monitoring.
Further, officials informed that Indian Air Force helicopters had been deployed and were conducting aerial operations using Bambi buckets to suppress and contain residual smoke.
As a precautionary measure, Western Dzükou has been temporarily closed.
Khonoma youth representatives expressed appreciation for the collective support extended by all stakeholders during the crisis.
They stated that the effective rescue and response efforts by volunteers were made possible due to prior disaster response training programmes initiated by the Angami Youth Organisation and conducted by SDRF.
Khonoma Youth Organisation adviser also conveyed gratitude to DC Kohima in his capacity as chairman of the district disaster management authority. He added that the government should be apprised of the successful containment achieved under DC’s leadership.
A discussion was held on whether firefighting operations should continue. While the helicopter crew from Kharagpur, along with youth volunteers and SDRF personnel, expressed confidence that the fire had been contained, it was decided that another trekking team would be deployed to Western Dzükou the following day to further verify the ground situation.
DC Kohima expressed gratitude to God and acknowledged the efforts of all agencies and individuals involved, particularly lauding the spirit of human compassion and cooperation demonstrated by the people of Khonoma.
Earlier in the day, advisor NSDMA & NRE, Z. Nyusietho Nyuthe, DC Kohima, nodal officer Kohima and NSDMA assistant manager (response & communication) Rendemo Shitio conducted an aerial survey of the Western and Southern Dzükou areas using a helicopter to assess the overall fire situation.
Meanwhile, an official from Jotsoma informed that in order to prevent the spread of fire in case of a flare up, the Jotsoma Youth Organisation had cleared access roads at Dzükou using an excavator.
It was reported that a road had been cut along the Lieho–Kezharüso–Kevedzü–Dzükou route, and another road was created within Dzükou to act as a firebreak and prevent the fire from spreading to other areas.