A massive fire broke out on December 12 in the west of Dzükou valley under Khonoma, prompting authorities to send out emergency response teams.
The cause of the fire remains yet to be ascertained but videoclips of the fire quickly went viral on social media. Authorities are currently investigating the situation, while rescue teams have been dispatched to help trekkers who may be trapped.
According to Kohima Deputy Commissioner (DC) Henok Buchem, the responders have rescued four stranded trekkers from the fire-ravaged Khonoma Dzükou. The trekkers were safely brought to the district administration’s base camp in Khonoma village after an intense operation by local rescue teams.
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The DC informed that currently, officials from the district administration are stationed at the base camp, closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with the Khonoma Youth Organization (KYO) and the Western Angami Youth Organization (WAYO) to ensure the safety of remaining trekkers and plan further actions.
A joint team of officials from the Home Department, Kohima District Administration, Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority, and local representatives from Khonoma will conduct an aerial survey of the affected area tomorrow morning. The survey will help assess the extent of the fire’s spread and identify potential threats to surrounding areas, the DC said.
It was also learnt that in an effort to contain the inferno, authorities will be adopting counter-fire measures including the deployment of helicopter services starting Saturday morning to douse the flames from the air. Preventive measures such as controlled burns are deemed unfeasible due to the isolated and dense forest terrain.
In light of the ongoing crisis, trekking in Dzükou valley has been banned until further notice. Officials have emphasized the critical need for public safety, as the fire continues to pose significant risks to the area.
Local authorities also urged the public to respect the ban and stay away from the affected area while the situation is being brought under control.
The Southern Angami Youth Organisation (SAYO) also issued an urgent advisory, suspending all trekking activities in the valley as the fire could potentially spread towards southern Dzükou. SAYO emphasized that safety is the top priority and that trekking will only resume once the situation is under control.
