Forest fire in Kohima outskirt
Forest fire in Kohima outskirt
24 April 2010
published by www.morungexpress.com
India — Fire was sweeping through local tourists favorite mount, Puliebadze in Kohima on Saturday evening, leaving behind huge swathes of lush forest areas razed. The fire is reported to have started late evening between 6:00 and 7:00 PM. The cause of the latest jungle fire could not be ascertained by authorities at the time of filing this news report. Fires services said they can do nothing about it. If at all any measure to contain the fire are taken, it would only be from the populated foothill areas of the peak and surrounding villages. Emergency services cannot access the current perimeter of the fire, Fire officials said over phone today. In January, a devastating fire ravaged almost half of Nagalands famed trekking destination, the Dzukou Valley. The Dzükou forest fire which started on January 4 was the result of a number of young campers burning plastic and litter. Puliebadze is the second major reserved forest area in Nagaland to be reported caught in fire.
Puliebadze is also a wildlife sanctuary with its foothill swathes home to the capital town of Nagaland. Spread over an estimated area of 9.23 square kilometers, Puliebadze is home for a number of exotic bird species including the Tragopan and White-Naped Yuhina.
The Fire services of Kohima expressed haplessness that the fire cannot be controlled due to inaccessible terrain. The peak is a steep terrain with no inlets for emergency services to access, Fire officials from Kohima said tonight. Another source said that the fire was spreading towards the south. Rain was being hoped for by the concerned sources; otherwise, the fire will spiral out of control considering the recent onset of the winds, the source said.
The Dzükou Valley fire in January lasted for about four days. By the time the fire was contained the Tragopan Sanctuary was already devastated while almost the entire south and western areas of the valley was ravaged.
