UKHRUL: The massive wildfire burning for two consecutive days at Dzükou and Mt Esii has caused extensive damage to forest cover across the mountain range. A joint team reached the affected area at around on Thursday in a renewed effort to control the blaze.
The operation involves a joint deployment of Manipur Police from Mao, Tadubi and Maram, the Tadubi Fire Brigade, Forest Department, National Disaster Response Forc(NDRF), State Disaster Response Force(SDRF), Song Song SDO, Song Song Village Authority, and local volunteers from Mao villages.
According to officials and local sources, the fire originated from the southern side of Dzükou and has now spread up to the Mt Esii range, burning large portions of the mountainside. More than 150 individuals joined the operation to contain the fire.
Despite steep cliffs and dangerous terrain, around 30 to 40 volunteers managed to climb Mt Esii and directly engage in smothering the flames. The Indian Air Force also visited the site to assess the situation with a helicopter on standby in case the situation worsens.
Sources on the ground stated that the primary firefighting efforts are being carried out by teams from the Manipur side, while no active participation from the Nagaland side has been reported so far. This has raised concerns, with locals urging both states to work together to protect the forest.
The fire is suspected to be man-made, raising serious concerns over negligence and accountability. Forest fires cause severe ecological damage, destroying flora and fauna, wildlife habitats, and natural water sources, while also affecting catchment areas and increasing the risk of long-term water scarcity for nearby villages.
As forest areas continue to burn, residents have questioned the lack of effective preventive measures, asking how many more forests must be lost before stricter action is taken.
ALSO READ: Mizo Integration Council Reaffirms Zo Unity After High-Level Meetings in Mizoram
In the aftermath of the incident, experts and community leaders have appealed to the government to urgently strengthen forest protection and wildfire prevention mechanisms.
These include stricter enforcement of forest fire regulations, bans on open burning, stronger penalties for violations, increased deployment of trained forest guards, improved monitoring systems, and sustained community awareness programmes.