KOHIMA, JANUARY 11: With no fresh fire reported for 4 consecutive days from anywhere in Dzukou Range, the Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority (NSDMA), under Home Department, has decided to de-induct all the IAF helicopters.
However, leaving nothing to chance, ground personnel will be stationed at the base camp to keep close watch, it was informed.
The Dzukou Range, home to the scenic Dzukou valley, was on fire since December 29, reducing to ashes a huge area of the forest cover.
“Since there is no fresh fire or smoke visible from the base camp and also the aerial survey conducted by the IAF helicopters, the Dzukou Range fire is completely extinguished,” said Kohima Divisional Forest Officer, Rajkumar M.
He informed that coordination-cum-de-briefing meeting was held in connection with Dzukou forest fire, under the chairmanship of Principal Secretary and Home Commissioner of Nagaland, Abhijit Sinha in Kohima on Monday.
The meeting had in attendance Commandant of NDRF, Rajesh Thakur, Deputy Commissioner of Kohima, Mohammed Ali Shihab A, SP Kohima, Manoj Kumar, DFO Kohima, Rajkumar M, and ADC, Kohima, Lithrongla Tongpi Rutsa.
The officials reviewed the entire operation of Dzukou forest fire and ‘appreciated all the concerned agencies for assisting in dousing it’.
They further decided to instruct de-induction of all the IAF helicopters deployed for dousing the fires in Dzukou range, since no fresh fire has been reported from anywhere in the valley for the past few days.
The meeting also decided to relieve 5 NDRF teams deployed at the base camp from Tuesday, but around 30-40 personnel of District Executive Force, Kohima, Forest Department and local volunteers of the Southern Angami Youth Organisation would continue to be stationed at the base camp to keep watch and monitor the status for the next few days, Rajkumar informed.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) today airlifted the fire fighting equipments of NDRF and SDRF stationed at Dzükou base camp to Jakhama Military Helipad, informed PRO Defence (Kohima) Lt Col Sumit K Sharma.
(Page News Service)
