Fire Fury: How Multi-Agency Efforts Helped Douse The Dzukou Valley Blaze In Nagaland
Team TNE
A devastating fire which possibly started on December 29 ravaged a part of the picturesque Dzukou Valley straddling the Nagaland-Manipur border for almost 10 days before it was finally doused with the combined efforts of many agencies. Located 30 kilometres from Nagaland’s capital Kohima, the valley is a popular trekking destination and known for its lilies and the endangered Nagaland’s state bird Blyth’s Tragopan.
Soon after the fire broke out, which also spread towards the hills of Manipur, the Eastern Air Command in Shillong deployed the Mi-17V5 helicopter to help extinguish the fire. Firefighting equipment and 48 National Disaster Response Force (NRDR) personnel were air-lifted from Guwahati to Dimapur for the operation.
Photo credits: Defence PRO Shillong & NDRF