Kraiba Chawang
Dimapur | January 21
While informing that the damage caused to Dzukou Valley by the recent raging fire may not be permanent, government officials cautioned that the regeneration of the vegetation may take time.
Kohima DFO L. Kire speaking to The Morung Express also disclosed that this was not the first time that fire has ravaged the tourist spot. Some 2 decades ago a similar fire had broken out in the area and had caused extensive damage, but the vegetation could regenerate though it took time to heal, Kire informed.
Although, aerial survey team could not make out the exact area of damage on Dzukou valley due to poor visibility on Friday, the assessment made by the IAF pilot revealed that about 72 Sq km, 18 km in length and 4 km in width has been ravaged by the fire that broke out a week ago.
The Kohima DFO who was part of the survey team, said that though the team members could not make out the extent of the damages; the pilot who had prior experience in such surveys had put the area of damage at 72 sq km.
Kire also said that the survey which was carried out despite the inclement weather there was no more any sign of fire and it was safely concluded that the fire had been completely extinguished.
However, Kire cautioned that anything may happen anywhere, and appealed to the people to be aware of the havoc the fire could wreak on flora and fauna of the State.
For more than a week, villagers and youths of the southern Angami areas, Assam Rifles, Police, Fire Service and other state agencies put all efforts to put out the fire. The State Forest department has apprised the central team of the damage done by the fire.
Kire also said that the Dzukou fire had created awareness in the state and at the national level. “It is quite an experience for us”, he said, pointing out that the magnitude of the fire was not the type that could be handled by the state forest department or the state government alone.
“The centre gave due importance this time, not because of the fire but because Dzukou biodiversity is unique, said Kire. Otherwise, the state could not have been able to make the entire damage control assessment due to the difficult terrain of Dzukou valley”, he added.
Morung Express News
