Taj25O2937005 at 19:46, 11 December 2025

2025-12-11T19:46:04Z

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{{Short description|Fires in Nagaland and Manipur, India}}{{Infobox wildfire|date=29 December 2020-9 January 2021|area=200 acres}}
The '''2020–21 Dzüko Valley wildfires''' occurred in the states of [[Nagaland]] and [[Manipur]] in [[Northeast India|North-east India]], beginning on 29 December 2020. The wildfire resulted in widespread environmental damage in the ecologically sensitive region of the [[Dzüko Valley]], destroying 200 acres of [[old-growth forest]]. On 9 January 2021, Nagaland government officers stated that the fire had been brought under control and it was confirmed to have been doused by 11 January 2021.

== Overview ==

=== Environmental factors ===
The [[Dzüko Valley]] is an environmentally sensitive zone located in the north-eastern state of Nagaland, and bordering the state of Manipur, in India. It is located at 2452 meters above sea level, and hosts a large variety of flora and fauna, including the Dzüko lily, which is indigenous to the valley and not found elsewhere.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Leivon |first=Jimmy |date=2021-01-01 |title=Massive wildfire engulfs large parts of Dzuko valley on Nagaland-Manipur border |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/north-east-india/manipur/massive-wildfire-engulfs-large-parts-of-dzuko-valley-on-nagaland-manipur-border-7128189/ |access-date=2021-01-05 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref> The valley is also home to the endangered [[Blyth's tragopan]], the state bird of Nagaland.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news|date=2021-01-02|title=NDRF deploys more teams, choppers as Dzukou Valley wildfire rages on|url=https://zeenews.india.com/india/ndrf-deploys-more-teams-choppers-as-dzukou-valley-wildfire-rages-on-2333956.html|access-date=2021-01-05|website=Zee News|language=en}}</ref> It is popular for tourism and trekking.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Jaiswal |first=Umanand |date=2 January 2021 |title=IAF, NDRF teams battle wildfire in Dzukou Valley |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/north-east/iaf-ndrf-teams-battle-wildfire-in-dzukou-valley/cid/1802319 |access-date=2021-01-05 |website=The Telegraph India}}</ref>

The valley borders [[Mount Tempü]], in Manipur, which is covered in a large area of [[old-growth forest]] called [[Kezol-tsa]].<ref name=":0" /> The valley has experienced several wildfires before. In 2006, a wildfire damaged an area of 20 kilometers in the southern part of the valley.<ref name=":2"/> In 2018, a previous wildfire believed to have been caused by some tourists damaged part of the valley.<ref name=":0" /> The valley is disputed territory, with both states of Nagaland and Manipur claiming it as part of their land.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news|last=Laithangbam|first=Iboyaima|date=2021-01-02|title=Manipur deploys two helicopters to fight wildfire in Dzukou Valley|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/manipur-deploys-two-helicopters-to-fight-wildfire-in-dzukou-valley/article33477821.ece|access-date=2021-01-05|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

== Cause ==
The fire is believed to have begun on 28 or 29 December 2020. After unsuccessful attempts to control the fire on the ground, it spread southwards and to the west, across the valley towards the neighboring state of Manipur, and engulfed Mount Tempü in Manipur.<ref name=":0" /> On 2 January, the wildfire spread to the state of Manipur and the Manipur State Government began firefighting efforts as well.<ref name=":3" /> The presence of dry grass and climatic factors, including strong winds, encouraged the spread of the wildfire.<ref name=":4">{{Cite news|date=2021-01-04|title=In Manipur's fragile Dzukou Valley, fight to contain wildfire continues|url=https://lifestyle.livemint.com//smart-living/environment/in-manipur-s-dzukou-valley-air-force-continues-fight-to-douse-fire-111609671879290.html|access-date=2021-01-05|website=Mintlounge|language=en}}</ref> [[Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority]] reported that "heavy gusty winds" were not only causing further spread of the wildfire, but were hindering firefighting efforts.<ref name=":2"/> The ''[[Deccan Herald]]'' reported that the wildfire had spread to the extent that it was visible from the Nagaland state capital, [[Kohima]], which was situated 30 kilometers away.<ref name=":5">{{Cite news |last=Karmakar |first=Sumir |date=2021-01-04 |title=Dzukou Valley forest fire still raging on Manipur side |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/national/east-and-northeast/dzukou-valley-forest-fire-still-raging-on-manipur-side-935184.html |access-date=2021-01-05 |website=Deccan Herald |language=en}}</ref>

The exact causes of the fire have not yet been determined. Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority officials have suggested that the fire occurred naturally, and was a product of the dry weather.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Barman |first=Rini |date=2021-02-21 |title=The rolling ashes from Dzukou hills write back |url=https://lifestyle.livemint.com//smart-living/environment/the-rolling-ashes-from-dzukou-hills-write-back-111613896169159.html |access-date=2021-03-16 |website=Mintlounge |language=en}}</ref>

== Damage ==
Local tribal council leaders reported that areas of old-growth forest around Mount Tempü, as well as flora and fauna in the Dzüko Valley, had been damaged.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":6">{{Cite news |last=Choudhury |first=Ratnadip |date=3 January 2021 |title=Dzuko Wildfire At Manipur Border Blazing, 4 Air Force Helicopters Rushed |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/manipur-nagaland-dzuko-valley-wildfire-at-manipur-border-blazing-4-air-force-helicopters-rushed-2347096 |access-date=2021-01-05 |website=NDTV.com}}</ref> Manipur Chief Minister [[N. Biren Singh]] reported after an aerial survey of the fire that it had "...spread quite extensively and caused serious damage on this part of mountain range."<ref name=":4" /> State officials from Nagaland and Manipur both confirmed that areas of old-growth forest had been destroyed by the wildfire, causing possible harm to local biodiversity.<ref name=":6" /> Manipur government officials stated that as of 4 January 2021, 200 acres of forest had been destroyed by the fire.<ref name=":5" />

=== Casualties ===
On 4 January 2021, a member of the National Disaster Relief Force deployed for fire-fighting efforts was reported as having died at a base camp established near the Valley. The cause of death is yet to be established.{{Citation needed|date=October 2024}}

== Response ==

=== Control and Dousing ===
The initial response to the wildfire was led by local residents, and a group of 130 volunteers, accompanied by forest officials attempted to control the fire before it reached Mount Tempü across the state border, in Manipur, and damaged the old-growth forest in that region.<ref name=":0" /> Manual attempts to control the fire were not successful because of the steep terrain, which required firefighters to trek for several kilometers before they could reach the site of the fire.<ref name=":0" />

Following unsuccessful attempts to contain the fire locally, the state of Nagaland deployed 200 firefighter and sought assistance from the [[Indian Army]] and the [[National Disaster Response Force]] (NDRF).<ref name=":0" /> The NDRF airlifted a team of firefighters, along with helicopters containing fire-fighting equipment, to the Dzüko Valley.<ref name=":6" /> In total, seven NDRF teams were deployed, with four in Manipur and three at Nagaland.<ref name=":2" /> Firefighting efforts were assisted by 300 local volunteers.<ref name=":7">{{Cite news|last= |first= |date=2021-01-04 |title=Dzukou Valley wildfire likely to be tamed within Monday |url=https://www.sentinelassam.com/north-east-india-news/nagaland-news/dzukou-valley-wildfire-likely-to-be-tamed-within-monday-519330 |access-date=2021-01-05 |website=The Sentinel |language=en}}</ref>

By 2 January 2021, the wildfire had spread across the state border of Nagaland and into Manipur, and the Manipur Government deployed air and ground forces to fight the fire.<ref name=":3" /> On 2 January 2021, police and military officials, along with state government officials stated that the fire had been brought under control.<ref name=":8">{{Cite news |date=2021-01-02 |title=Forest fire in Nagaland's Dzukou Range under control: report |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/north-east-india/nagaland/forest-fire-in-nagalands-dzukou-range-7129909/ |access-date=2021-01-05 |website=The Indian Express |language=en |agency=Press Trust of India}}</ref> However, on 4 January 2021, Nagaland government officials confirmed that the wildfire had not been controlled and that they were hoping to have it under control in a few days.<ref name=":7" /> Strong winds inhibited firefighting efforts during this period, and access to areas of the wildfire was difficult to obtain because of the mountainous terrain.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Strong winds hamper Dzukou Valley fire fight|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/north-east/strong-winds-hamper-dzukou-valley-fire-fight/cid/1802644|access-date=2021-01-05|website=The Telegraph India}}</ref>

On 3 January 2021, four [[Indian Air Force]] helicopters were deployed to assist in firefighting operations, and reported that the fire had been partially controlled in the Dzüko Valley but continued to spread in Manipur, and around Mount Tempü.<ref name=":6" /><ref>{{Cite news|last=ET Online|date=4 January 2021|title=Watch: IAF helps douse wildfire in Nagaland's Dzukou valley|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/watch-iaf-helps-douse-wildfire-in-nagalands-dzukou-valley/videoshow/80098997.cms|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210104130405/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/watch-iaf-helps-douse-wildfire-in-nagalands-dzukou-valley/videoshow/80098997.cms |archive-date=2021-01-04 |access-date=2021-01-05|website=The Economic Times}}</ref> A fireline of five kilometers had been cut by volunteer forces in the Dzüko Valley, which helped contain the fire within Nagaland.<ref name=":8" />

On 9 January 2021, Nagaland State Forest Department officials reported that the fire had been brought under control after ten days of fire-fighting, and that firefighting teams would continue operations to ensure that the fire was completely extinguished, for a few more days.<ref>{{Cite news |date=9 Jan 2021 |title=Dzukou Forest Fire In Nagaland Under Control, Says Official |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/dzukou-forest-fire-in-nagaland-under-control-says-official-2349883 |access-date=2021-01-09 |website=NDTV.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Bahn |first=Divya |date=9 Jan 2021 |title=Dzukou Valley fire put out? Officials say no active blaze spotted |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2021/jan/08/dzukou-valley-fire-put-out-officials-say-no-active-blaze-spotted-2247415.html |access-date=2021-01-09 |website=The New Indian Express}}</ref> The Indian Air Force continued with the aerial survey.<ref>{{Cite news|agency=PTI|date=2021-01-09|title=Dzukou blaze under control but operations to continue: Officer|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/dzukou-blaze-under-control-but-operations-to-continue-officer/article33533424.ece|access-date=2021-01-09|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> On 12 January 2021, two weeks after the fire began, the Nagaland government confirmed that the fire had been completely doused.<ref name=":9">{{Cite news|last=Karmakar|first=Rahul|date=2021-01-12|title=Dzukou Valley wildfire doused|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/dzukou-valley-wildfire-doused/article33553588.ece|access-date=2021-07-18|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

== Impact ==
On 12 January 2021, the Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority announced that they would conduct an investigation into the damage caused to the [[Dzüko Valley]] as a result of the fire.<ref name=":9" /> An estimated 200 acres of forest were damaged by the fire.<ref name=":1" />

== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{Authority control}}

{{2021 wildfires}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dzuko Valley wildfire, 2020-21}}
[[Category:2020 wildfires]]
[[Category:2020 natural disasters]]
[[Category:Wildfires in India]]
[[Category:2021 natural disasters]]
[[Category:2021 wildfires]]
[[Category:2020 fires in Asia]]
[[Category:2021 fires in Asia]]

2020 21 Dzüko Valley wildfires - Revision history

Taj25O2937005 at 19:46, 11 December 2025