Morung Express News
Dimapur | January 13
THE UNION Home Ministry has responded to the SOS message dispatched by Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio yesterday in the wake of the raging fire at Dzükou Valley which has already destroyed about 10 sq km of the valley.
When contacted the Forest Secretary L. Kire informed The Morung Express that the Union Home Ministry has responded to the SOS, disclosing that Ashim Khurana, Joint Secretary, spearheading the Disaster Management Group under the Ministry of Home Affairs has assured the Nagaland Chief Secretary of aerial assistance to help douse the fire. “Mr. Khurana has informed the Indian Air Force to dispatch a helicopter to conduct aerial survey of the valley tomorrow”, informed the Secretary. He will be accompanied by DFO Kohima during the survey which will focus on locations and points where the fire has spread in order to plan out a strategy in battling the fire.
According to sources the helicopter for the aerial operation will be flown in from Unit 110, Eastern Air Command at Kumbhigram airfield under Manipur. The airfield at Kumbhirgram is assigned to provide air maintenance for the Army and paramilitary force in Nagaland, Mizoram, Tripura and Manipur. In addition to this the unit is also entrusted with Communication sorties for Air Force, Army, Paramilitary forces and Government of Mizoram, Nagaland, Assam, Tripura and Arunachal Pradesh and aid to civil power wherever called upon.
An exact assessment of the damage caused by the fire now blazing for the last six days will be known only after tomorrow’s air force operation, officials informed.
The State Forest Department remains activated with support from local people and officials of the fire department in battling the wildfire at Dzükou Valley. With the fire still raging in the valley, an effort was made by the forest department with manpower from thirty villagers climbing the Tempu Peak to get visual assessment of the fire. “They could see the slope valley and outer ridges of Dzükou but no damage as such was visible from that point”, Kire informed The Morung Express.
However, according to the team the fire is spreading towards Japfu range areas and Visama areas and about 10 square kilometers of the valley considering the steep slopes have been destroyed.
When asked if any rare species have been endangered, the Forest Secretary mentioned that since the area is known for its rich biodiversity, it was possible that flora and fauna has been affected. It may be mentioned that the beautiful Dzuko valley about 30 kms south of Kohima is under immense fire threat for the past few days.
