Wildfire rages in famed Dzukou Valley for third day, aerial operations likely to be conducted

Aerial firefighting operations are apt to commence connected Sunday (December 14, 2025) arsenic a wildfire raged successful the picturesque Dzukou Valley successful Nagaland for the 3rd day, with beardown winds expanding the affected country and pushing the flames towards Japfu upland range, raising ecological and information concerns, officials said.

The fire, which broke retired connected Friday (December 12, 2025), initially affected astir 1.3 sq km of wood area. However, changing upwind conditions and gusty winds person caused the blaze to dispersed further crossed the rugged and inaccessible terrain, an authoritative of the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), Kohima, said.

The DDMA authoritative said that pursuing appraisal of the fire, the territory medication has decided to requisition a chopper fitted with a 'bambi bucket' from the Indian Air Force done the Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority (NSDMA).

The aerial firefighting cognition is expected to commence connected Sunday (December 14), the authoritative said.

Authorities said quality involution connected the crushed remains highly constricted owed to steep slopes, dense vegetation and the isolated quality of the area. The affected portion falls nether the wood onshore of Khonoma colony located westbound of Kohima.

According to officials and colony authorities, the wildfire was accidentally triggered by 4 section trekkers, who had lit a occurrence astatine their campsite. The occurrence reportedly went retired of power erstwhile the trekkers near the tract to fetch water.

The trekkers were aboriginal trapped by the spreading flames and were rescued connected Saturday by volunteers of the Khonoma Youth Organisation (KYO). They person confessed to igniting the fire, officials said.

An aerial survey conducted by authorities authorities revealed extended harm to ample tracts of virgin forest, with the occurrence spreading successful aggregate directions.

Sources said the aerial appraisal was carried retired aft a drone appraisal could not beryllium undertaken owed to the hard terrain.

Volunteers of KYO, on with police, fire, wood and catastrophe absorption personnel, are astatine the spot.

Officials and conservation authorities warned that the occurrence has continued to determination dilatory but steadily, with reports indicating its dispersed towards Hophera Thi adjacent the Jotsoma-Khonoma border, expanding the hazard of further enlargement into hard terrain.

Dzukou Valley is an ecologically delicate portion known for its uncommon flora, alpine meadows and trekking routes. Officials cautioned that adust vegetation and prevailing upwind conditions marque the country highly susceptible to fast-spreading fires.

Meanwhile, authorities person urged the nationalist and trekkers to enactment distant from the country arsenic containment efforts proceed and person banned trekking until the occurrence is afloat controlled.