Kohima: Firefighting teams continued operations for the eighth consecutive day in Nagaland’s Dzükou valley on Monday, with officials saying the massive wildfire in Kohima district has been largely brought under control and is now confined to limited pockets.
Kohima Deputy Commissioner B Henok Buchem said the fire, which broke out on January 26, is now mostly restricted to areas below and around Mount Tempfü. He said the main Dzükou valley remains unaffected and free from any immediate fire threat.
“Fresh flare-ups have been reported in pockets near Mount Tempfü and Mount Merata, while the fire near the helipad area has been completely contained. A multi-agency firefighting operation has been underway since day one, involving over 150 personnel,” the DC said.
He said firefighting efforts have been hampered in some locations due to rugged terrain and inaccessibility, particularly in areas behind Mount Tempfü, limiting the scope for manual intervention.
To strengthen aerial operations, two Indian Air Force helicopters have been deployed, with three Bambi bucket sorties each carried out on Saturday and Sunday. Additional sorties have been planned for Monday, Buchem said.
While a scientific assessment of damage is yet to be conducted, preliminary estimates indicate that nearly one-third of the broader Dzükou area may have been affected. However, officials stressed that the main Dzükou valley has remained untouched.
Authorities said most of the damage has been confined to dwarf bamboo vegetation, which is expected to regenerate naturally within a few months.
Teams from the district administration, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), police, forest department, fire and emergency services, Southern Angami Youth Organisation (SAYO), home guards, drone operators and personnel from 13 Assam Rifles have been deployed in the operation.
SAYO president Zaseitsolie Beio said the wildfire initially broke out between the Jakhama and Viswema entry routes before spreading towards Kehoke and Mount Tempfü.
He said dense vegetation, thick bamboo growth and difficult terrain have posed major challenges for firefighting teams, and commended SDRF personnel for their sustained manual efforts despite the risks involved.
Both the district administration and SAYO expressed concern over recurring wildfires in Dzükou, attributing many such incidents to negligence by visitors.
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Officials said the government, in consultation with SAYO, is considering issuing a notification to institutionalise guidelines for the management and maintenance of the Dzükou valley.
They also appealed to trekkers and tourists to act responsibly, strictly follow guidelines and engage authorised guides to help protect the fragile Dzükou ecosystem.
