Dzukou on Fire

The forest fire along the Nagaland-Manipur border razed on for two whole weeks

Dzukou Valley is a trekker’s paradise and so it is not surprising that it attracts travellers from different parts of the country, as well as across the world. Most travellers like to visit the valley during the monsoon season because then the flowers start to bloom. The Dzukou lily, found only in the valley, is on top of most travellers’ must-see list. In addition to the striking flora, the valley is also home to rare and endangered birds and primates. Last year, towards the end of December, a fire broke out in the valley endangering the forests and the wildlife residing in them. It took authorities two weeks to douse the fire, and they were able to achieve the feat with help from multiple sources.

The Uncontrollable Fire

The wildfire broke out on December 29. Although, it has not been determined what actually caused the fire, it is suspected that campers in the area may have left embers that could have led to the forest fire. However, it should be noted that the valley has been prone to forest fires for years now. The last fire was recorded in March 2015. Three years before that, hundreds of acres were razed to the ground. Even in 2010, a smaller fire destroyed about half the forests. But, the biggest one was likely when the fire spread to Mount Japfu in 2006.