A wildfire is rapidly spreading in Western Dzükou on Friday, triggering an urgent response from the district administration. Officials said teams from the Fire & Emergency Services and the Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority (NSDMA) have been dispatched to the area, while a District Level Monitoring panel is being set up immediately.
The Kohima Deputy Commissioner, B. Henok Buchem, NCS, issued an emergency order directing a multi-agency team to carry out immediate reconnaissance and rescue operations to contain the blaze. The operation will be led by Imliakum, SDO (Civil), Sechü-Zubza, who has been tasked with coordinating efforts on the ground.
The team includes officials from the Kohima North Police, Home Guards, the Forest Department, the District Disaster Management Authority, the Fire & Emergency Services, along with representatives from the Western Angami Youth Organisation (WAYO). They have been instructed to reach the site without delay, assess the situation, and mobilize all available resources to prevent further spread of the fire.
The Deputy Commissioner has directed the team to provide regular updates to his office as the operation progresses. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation as response efforts continue.
SAYO suspends all trekking to Dzükou
Following the fire outbreak reported in Western Dzükou on Friday, the Southern Angami Youth Organisation (SAYO) has issued an urgent advisory suspending all trekking activities to Dzükou Valley.
In its notification, SAYO said the restriction has been enforced as a precautionary measure due to the risk the ongoing fire poses to trekkers. The organisation warned that the blaze, which was detected on December 12, may potentially spread toward the Southern Dzükou Valley, prompting the need for immediate closure of the trekking route.
Trekking will remain suspended until the fire is fully extinguished and authorities confirm that the area is safe.
SAYO expressed regret for the inconvenience caused to the public but maintained that the decision was necessary in the interest of safety.
70-year-old trekker injured on Dzükou trail rescued
A 70-year-old woman trekker from West Bengal was rescued on Wednesday after she fell and reportedly dislocated her hip while trekking to Dzükou Valley. The rescue operation was carried out jointly by the Southern Angami Youth Organisation (SAYO) and the Southern Angami Tour Guide Council (SATGC), who transported her back to safety despite challenging terrain and limited access.
According to officials, the tourist slipped along the trail during her ascent to the valley. With no immediate means of evacuation available, the rescue team improvised a stretcher using a bedsheet. In steeper stretches, rescuers had to carry her on their backs to navigate the difficult landscape. A physiotherapist later assessed her condition, after which she was escorted back to her homestay. The operation continued late into the night due to the terrain and the trekker’s injury.
SAYO noted that the guides involved in the mission had previously undergone disaster management and first-aid training under the Tourism Department—skills that proved vital in handling the situation.
The organisation also expressed gratitude to the Community Health Centre (CHC) Viswema for promptly dispatching an ambulance to support the rescue.
In light of increasing incidents and safety concerns, SAYO reiterated that trekking to Dzükou Valley requires visitors to take registered tour guides. The organisation said that even during the recent Hornbill Festival, several tourists attempted to trek without guides, leading to unwarranted scenes at the entry point, with some individuals reportedly taking videos and photographs of on-duty officials.
SAYO stated that such behaviour compromises both safety and protocol, and reaffirmed that mandatory guides are essential for safe access to Dzükou Valley.
