Wildfire Spreads Across Dzukou Valley; Rescue Teams Deployed, Trails Closed

Yesterday (29.01.2026) A major wildfire broke out in the ecologically sensitive Dzukou Valley, located along the border of Nagaland and Manipur, triggering emergency response measures and the evacuation of trekkers as flames continue to spread across grasslands and forested slopes.

The fire, reported over the past few days, intensified due to dry weather conditions, strong winds and the region’s difficult mountainous terrain, making firefighting operations challenging. As a precaution, trekking activities in the valley — which falls under Nagaland’s Kohima district while extending into parts of Manipur — have been suspended, and all entry routes have been closed until further notice.

According to officials, more than 30 trekkers were safely evacuated from the affected areas. No casualties have been reported so far. Local authorities from both states, along with forest officials, disaster response teams and local volunteers, are engaged in efforts to contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading towards nearby forest zones and human settlements.

The wildfire has raised serious environmental concerns, as Dzukou Valley is known for its fragile ecosystem and rare alpine flora. Experts warn that prolonged fires in the region could cause long-term damage to biodiversity, soil quality and water sources. Recurrent forest fires in the Northeast have increasingly been linked to prolonged dry spells and human-induced factors.

Authorities in Nagaland and Manipur are closely monitoring the situation and have urged the public and trekkers to avoid the area until conditions stabilise. Firefighting and containment operations are expected to continue, subject to weather conditions.