UKHRUL: A wildfire broke out in the southern part of Dzukou Valley in Nagaland’s Kohima district, prompting the evacuation of over 30 trekkers stranded in the high-altitude area, officials said on Wednesday.
According to the Kohima District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), the fire is believed to have erupted on Monday, though authorities were informed a day later. The cause and exact origin of the blaze are yet to be ascertained.
The district administration, in coordination with the Southern Angami Youth Organisation (SAYO), launched containment and rescue operations to prevent the fire from spreading further. Deputy Commissioner B. Henok Buchem constituted a reconnaissance and rescue team and said all available resources would be mobilised, with additional personnel deployed as required.
An emergency meeting of the DDMA was scheduled for Wednesday afternoon to assess the situation and decide on further measures.
SAYO president Zasitsolie Beio said the organisation was alerted to the wildfire on Monday afternoon after volunteers shared videos and photographs from the site. He said the immediate priority was the safe evacuation of trekkers and the implementation of precautionary measures.
As a safety measure, all trekking activities in Dzukou Valley from both the Jakhama and Viswema entry points have been temporarily suspended.
The incident comes less than a month after a major wildfire in the Khonoma–Dzukou Valley area in December, which required a coordinated multi-agency response.