News Analysis India

Tag: Dzukou Valley Fire

  • Dzukou Valley fire put out? Officials say no active blaze spotted

    Express News Service
    GUWAHATI: Ten days later, no active fire was spotted in areas near the ecologically-sensitive Dzukou Valley on the Nagaland-Manipur border on Friday.

    Official sources in both states confirmed it.

    “No active fire was spotted today. However, smoke was found in three locations. It was controlled in two of them. The third could not be reached,” Rajkumar M, who is the Divisional Forest Officer of Kohima in Nagaland, said.

    He said over 150 personnel of the police, National Disaster Response Force, State Disaster Response Force, forest department besides local volunteers, stationed at a base camp, would try to reach the spot on Saturday and control the smoke.

    His Senapati counterpart in Manipur D John Sha said neither fire nor smoke was detected on the day.

    “There was no active fire. There was also no smoke. Things are almost under control now on our side,” the forest officer said.

    The Indian Air Force (IAF), which deployed four helicopters to douse the inferno, said it would continue its mission on Saturday.

    “The IAF helicopters will continue the mission to assist fire-fighting at Dzukou Valley tomorrow,” Shillong-based Wing Commander Ratnakar Singh said.

    The choppers, which used Bambi Buckets to tame the fire, were requisitioned by the Nagaland government. The Manipur government had also sought the Centre’s help in controlling the situation.

    The Dzukou Valley is known for its natural environment, seasonal flowers, and flora and fauna and is a popular tourist destination.

  • IAF battles odds to douse Dzukou Valley fire

    Express News Service
    GUWAHATI: The Indian Air Force (IAF) is undertaking a complex operation as it is trying to douse the wildfire in the ecologically-sensitive Dzukou Valley on the Nagaland-Manipur border.

    The operation involves complex calculations and skilled flying for the pilots. The fire is raging at different pockets of both states despite efforts being made by multiple agencies.

    A gust and difficult terrain is only one problem for the pilots. With the help of Bambi Buckets, the IAF pilots are lifting thousands of litres of water from a water body in Nagaland’s Dimapur district and making sorties for 15-20 minutes before they reach the site of wildfire that has wreaked havoc in the “Valley of Flowers”.

    A retired IAF pilot told The New Indian Express: “The practical difficulties will be precision dropping of water. Since it is a hilly region and there is air turbulence, steady flying will not be easy. It’s a difficult operation.”

    Four IAF helicopters are engaged in dousing the fire. The IAF’s help was sought by the Nagaland government. Forty-eight personnel of the National Disaster Response Force were airlifted from Guwahati on Friday for deployment at the site.

    Two days ago, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh stated that the fire had crossed Mount ASIi, the highest peak in the state.

    Union Home Minister Amit Shah is taking stock of the situation. He assured Singh of all assistance from the Centre. Singh had requested the Army and the Assam Rifles to extend their help in controlling the inferno which broke out four days ago.

    In Nagaland, the authorities are trying to control the blaze through traditional “fire line cutting”. Personnel from the State Disaster Response Force, police and forest departments besides volunteers are deployed to the site.

    The Dzukou Valley is known for its natural environment, seasonal flowers, and flora and fauna and is a popular tourist destination.