Kohima: A massive wildfire continued to rage across the famed Dzukou Valley in Nagaland for the third consecutive day, prompting authorities to plan aerial firefighting operations as strong winds expanded the blaze and pushed it towards the Japfu mountain range, officials said on Sunday.
The fire broke out on Friday and initially affected around 1.3 square kilometres of forest land.
However, changing weather conditions and gusty winds have caused the flames to spread rapidly across the rugged and largely inaccessible terrain, raising serious ecological and safety concerns, an official of the Kohima District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) said.
Following an assessment of the situation, the district administration has decided to requisition a helicopter equipped with a ‘bambi bucket’ from the Indian Air Force through the Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority.
Officials said aerial firefighting operations are expected to begin on Sunday.
Ground-based intervention has remained severely limited due to steep slopes, dense vegetation and the remoteness of the affected area.
The fire has engulfed forest land under Khonoma village, located west of Kohima, officials said.
According to authorities and village leaders, the wildfire was accidentally triggered by four local trekkers who had lit a campfire in the valley.
The flames reportedly spiralled out of control after they left the site to fetch water.
The trekkers were later trapped by the advancing fire and were rescued on Saturday by volunteers of the Khonoma Youth Organisation (KYO). Officials said the trekkers have since confessed to igniting the fire.
An aerial survey conducted by government agencies has revealed extensive damage to large stretches of virgin forest, with the fire spreading in multiple directions.
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Sources said the aerial assessment was undertaken after drone surveillance proved unfeasible due to the difficult terrain.
Volunteers of the KYO, along with personnel from the police, fire services, forest department and disaster management agencies, remain deployed at the site.
Officials warned that although the fire is moving slowly, it continues to advance steadily, with reports indicating its spread towards Hophera Thi near the Jotsoma–Khonoma border, increasing the risk of further expansion into challenging terrain.
Dzukou Valley, an ecologically sensitive zone renowned for its rare flora, alpine meadows and popular trekking routes, remains highly vulnerable due to dry vegetation and prevailing weather conditions.
Authorities have urged the public and trekkers to stay away from the area and have imposed a ban on trekking until the fire is fully brought under control.
