Alice Yhoshu
KOHIMA, MARCH 13
The devastating wildfire that broke out near the heart of Dzükou Valley two days ago continued to rage on Friday and is now reported to be burning intensely in southern Dzükou and along the ridge above Viswema village. So far, the area destroyed by the fire is estimated to be around 8 Sq Km approximately. According to forest department officials stationed at the base camp located above Kerho stream, Jakhama, an extensive area of the valley is being burned down by the wildfire. Besides some secondary forest, Bamboo (Arundinaria sp.) which blankets a large portion of the valley and several species of rhododendron trees were razed by the fire, they said.
The inferno was earlier reported to have progressed into the adjoining wooded area on the east and northeastern part of the valley but it has leapt towards the southern side by evening.
If the wildfire is not contained soon, the rich flora and fauna for which Dzükou Valley is known, faces massive ruins, says a department official. Owing to the destruction of flora by the fire, the capacity and natural flow of the water originating from the valley are expected to be reduced until vegetation grows back and flourishes in the area again.
Around 80 volunteers from nearby villages of Viswema, Jakhama, Kigwema, Khuzama and Phesama have gone into the valley this morning to try containing the fire while a platoon from 14 IRB along with UB police and forest personnel were sent up later in the day to observe the situation.
A State Disaster Management Authority (NSDMA) official said that the IAF chopper deployed by the Eastern Air Command as reinforcement to the ground force had to be suspended due to some technical snag and the air operations are expected to commence on Saturday.
The forest department has informed that an aerial survey of the extent of the fire was conducted this morning by a helicopter and the director general of the Ministry of Forest, Environment & Climate Change has been intimated about the situation.
On Saturday, around 200 volunteers will be sent into the valley to control the fire along the ridge above Viswema while two smaller teams will be sent from Jakhama and Khuzama side.
Meanwhile, a coordination committee was formed to monitor the fire and decide the ground strategy to contain the fire, and subsequently the committee held a meeting on Friday, headed by ADC Kohima Lithrongla Tongpi. The committee comprises of members from stakeholder departments including the district administration, police, wireless, home guard, medical, forest, NSDMA, Southern Angami Public Organization (SAPO) and youth organization (SAYO).
Minister for Forest, Environment & Wildlife, Dr. Neikesalie Kire and the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest & Head of Forest Force, M Lokeshwara Rao also visited the base camp and interacted with the coordination committee members to assess and take stock of the situation.
Later in the evening, the DFO Kohima informed that the base camp has been shifted to Viswema village junction.
The inferno at Dzükou Valley is believed to have been ignited from a small fire left unattended by irresponsible trekkers on the night of March 10. The authorities are said to have received information about the fire late March 11 and a team comprising of personnel from forest department, Civil Defence & Homeguards, State Disaster Management cell, district administration and volunteers from nearby villages conducted spot verification on March 12.
SAYO and SAPO officials have informed that they are doing their best to investigate the cause of fire and identify the culprit.
Mention may be made here that an enormous fire broke out on Mt. Japfü in January last year due to the carelessness of trekkers and burned down the pristine forests in the area, leaving the biodiversity rich area barren. The fire had raged on for about eight days and it took more than 500 volunteers and fire fighters and two IAF helicopters detailed by the Ministry of Home Affairs to fight the wildfire.
Chief Minister TR Zeliang today made an aerial survey of the wild fire and its devastation in the Dzukuo valley while on his way back from Delhi.
Chief Minister expressed concern over the magnitude of the devastation already caused by the raging fire in the picturesque valley and surrounding hills, and urged the State Home Department and State Disaster Management Authority to the expedite the emergency measures to douse the fire with the help of Air Force, National Disaster Management Authority and other competent agencies in order to prevent the fire from spreading further.
Zeliang expressed concern over the frequent occurrences of wild fire in the picturesque Dzukuo Valley of late, and felt that there is an urgent need for creating public awareness to prevent occurrence of such wildfire in future and protect natural heritage.
The Chief Minister also called upon all the visitors to be more responsible and have a sense of preservation and conservation of the fragile flora and fauna.
