An aerial view of the wildfire in Wokha district on March 18 shows thick smoke billowing into the sky as flames engulf the landscape below. Authorities inform on March 19 that the fire, which initially broke out on Monday, has been contained. (Photo Courtesy: DDMA Wokha)
KOHIMA, MARCH 19 (MExN): The Fire & Emergency Services (F&ES) Department has expressed serious concern over the rising incidents of forest fires in Nagaland, reporting that the state has officially recorded 114 cases in just two and a half months.
Kohima district alone accounted for 67 cases, a worrying trend, the department stated in a press release via state DIPR.
In this connection, it urged citizens and Village Councils to take proactive measures to identify and take action against those responsible for rampant indiscriminate forest burning by hunters, campers, and miscreants, as per the law.
Despite the best efforts of the department, along with village volunteers, the District Administration, and the police, forest fires continue to occur, posing a serious threat to both the environment and human settlement, it said.
The department also pointed out that it cannot attend to all forest fires unless they reach alarmingly near the human settlement area.
It further noted that the State Government, District Administration, and Forest Department have been issuing repeated notifications banning forest fires and warning of their ecological consequences.
Reiterating its appeal, the department called on the public and Village Councils to take proactive steps in preventing such incidents and ensuring strict enforcement of regulations
