A wildfire that broke out in the southern part of the Dzukou Valley in Nagaland’s Kohima district has led to the evacuation of more than 30 trekkers, with containment operations launched to prevent the blaze from spreading further.
The trekkers were safely evacuated from the high-altitude valley after being stranded due to the fire. District authorities, along with the Southern Angami Youth Organisation (SAYO), initiated measures to contain the wildfire and safeguard surrounding areas.
Officials of the Kohima District Disaster Management Authority said the fire was believed to have erupted on Monday, although information reached the authorities only on Tuesday. The cause and exact point of origin of the blaze were yet to be ascertained.
Deputy Commissioner B Henok Buchem constituted a team to undertake reconnaissance and rescue operations in the affected area.
Also read: Nagaland bans trekking as wildfire nears Dzukou Valley
“All available resources shall be mobilised to contain the further spread of the fire,” Buchem said, adding that additional personnel would be deployed if required.
A District Disaster Management Authority official said an emergency meeting would be held on Wednesday afternoon to decide on further measures.
The SAYO said it was alerted about the wildfire on Monday afternoon after volunteers shared videos and photographs from the site. The organisation prioritised the evacuation of trekkers and the implementation of precautionary steps, its president Zasitsolie Beio said.
As a precaution, all trekking activities in the Dzukou Valley through both the Jakhama and Viswema entry points have been temporarily suspended.
The incident comes less than a month after a major wildfire in the Khonoma Dzukou Valley in December, which had triggered a multi-agency firefighting response.
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