Fire in Dzükou yet to be contained

 4 IAF HELICOPTERS PRESSED INTO ACTION; OVER 300 PEOPLE ENGAGED IN ‘OP DZÜKOU VALLEY’

Correspondent KOHIMA, JAN 3 (NPN): Despite relentless efforts by various agencies under the State and Central governments including Southern Angami Youth Organization (SAYO) to contain the fire in Dzükou Valley that began on December 29, the fire is still raging and reportedly inching closer to the main valley.

According to SAYO vice president Khesie Sale, who had returned from the valley on Sunday evening on the basis of ground reports, although the fire was largely contained in most parts, the area towards the Elephant gate was still burning.

He added if there was no sudden turn of events, the fire-line cutting made earlier by volunteers and government agencies may prevent the fire from entering the valley.

While acknowledging the air support from the India Air Force (IAF), Sale said there was a dire need for manpower in order to create more fire-line cuttings which was the most effective measure to combat the fire. He also said that some SAYO volunteers along with members of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) would be camping at the valley to monitor the fire and also relay latest updates to the officials.

At least over 300 people were engaged in the massive operation to contain the inferno. Besides the NDRF team, fire fighters, police personnel and local volunteers and others on ground to contain the fire, four IAF helicopters have also been pressed into action with Bambi buckets to put out the massive forest fire in Dzükou valley, spread across from Nagaland to neighbouring Manipur. IAF helicopters have been refilling the Bambi bucket from Raj Pukhuri pond in Purana Bazaar area, Dimapur.

“Continuation of Operations Dzükou Valley. IAF helicopters resumed Bambi Bucket operations today towards dousing the fire in Dzukou Valley near Kohima. Four Mi-17 helicopters have been deployed at Dimapur and Rangapahar for the task,” IAF tweeted on Sunday.

PRO (Defence) Kohima stated that the choppers, stationed at Dimapur and Rangapahar military station, will resume the operation on Monday.

According to some estimates, an area measuring about 9 to 10 square km has been devastated by the fire so far and there are fears that, if the fire continue to burn at this rate, it may soon burn out the entire valley. As per reports, fire-fighters were able to partially control the forest fire. But, the wildfire on the southern side was yet to be brought under control, officials said.

Addressing media at Dzükou entry point, Viswema, here on Sunday, SAYO president Zakieleto Tsükrü, said there were a few suspects under their radar who were believed to have caused the fire.

He said on the day the fire broke out, a trekking group numbering around 21 youth were spotted in the valley after having trespassed from Manipur side along the Kezotsa forest, which is adjacent to Dzükou.

Tsükrü claimed that the group reportedly identified themselves as being from neighbouring village bordering Nagaland, though their villages could not be confirmed.

Pointing out that the valley was out of bounds for both domestic and foreign tourists for most part of 2020 owing to COVID-19 pandemic, Tsükrü claimed no one from Nagaland side had visited the valley since then, except those trespassing from Manipur side. He said though SAYO had sent volunteers to locate those trekkers, they could not be traced since they might have gone back from the route they entered through.

He recalled that governments of both Nagaland and Manipur had signed a memorandum at Nagaland chief minister’s office on November 26, 2018, which was still in effect and under which only two official routes – one each from Nagaland and Manipur sides – are to be used while visiting the valley.

Acknowledging the efforts put in by the Manipur government to help douse the fire on Nagaland’s soil, Tsükrü said there was no communication at the youth level so far and that he was unaware if there had been any communication between the two State governments.

He feared that so far though the fire was only in Angami areas of the range, it could soon spread towards other parts, if it was not doused early.
He lauded the government agencies for going beyond their means to contain the fire and also taking initiatives with seriousness.

Tsükrü claimed that SAYO volunteers were camping in the valley ever since the fire broke out to monitor the situation and also assist in various fire-fighting measures undertaken by different governmental agencies.
So far there has been no report of loss of any human or wild life because of the fire.

Welcoming help from any quarter to douse the fire, SAYO leaders also requested trekkers to avoid hiking to the valley until the fire was fully contained.

They explained that they were issuing the appeal to prevent loss of life or accidents since the fire fuelled by the wind is still raging furiously.

They assured that the valley would be reopened to general masses as and when it was possible and that till such time no individual or group should violate their directive.

Source: http://www.nagalandpost.com/fire-in-dz%C3%BCkou-yet-to-be-contained/226769.html