EMN
Dimapur, March 12
Personnel of the Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority, Home department, the Forest, and local volunteers are in Dzukou valley on Thursday, following reports about a forest fire in the tourist site. A huge spread of fire has been reported in the state’s most well-known valley, several kilometers away from Kohima town.
Members of the public, tourists and trekkers are advised not to venture into the value until the fire has been brought under complete control.
“On going to the spot, it was learnt that the fire had started a day before and eventually engulfed the valley for more than an estimated area of 10-15Kms,” the forest authorities informed in a note issued on March 12.“Since the devastation is huge and beyond the coping and control mechanism of the personnel pressed to duty, the NSDMA, Home department has requisitioned support from the Ministry of Home Affairs, DM division and Ministry of Defense for deployment of choppers to douse down the huge fire.”
The Eastern Air Command in Chief in Meghalaya’s Shillong has informed the Nagaland government that the helicopters for the initial aerial survey have started from Bagdogra to Guwahati. The Indian Air Force helicopters deployed by the Eastern Air Command would be reaching Rangapahar in the early hours of March 13 at around 6:30AMm, the forest department said.
The public are cautioned not to venture into Dzukou valley until the fire has been doused completely. “The state government is taking all steps to ensure safety of the public. Therefore the villages in the western and southern Angami areas should not panic by this forest fire,” the note added.
