Four Indian Air Force (IAF) choppers have reportedly been pressed into service to douse the wildfire in Dzukou valley in Nagaland.
A team from the National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF), firefighters and local volunteers are also on the ground, trying to contain the wildfire that broke out on December 29, ND TV reported.
The Indian Air Force chopper has been carrying out operations for the past three days, flying out from Dimapur in Nagaland.
48 NDRF personnel were airlifted from Guwahati to Dimapur on Saturday to the Manipur side of Dzukou Valley where over 200 firefighters of the state fire service are on the ground battling the fire.
According to officials, the state’s firefighters have been able to partially control the forest fire in the picturesque valley. But, the wildfire on the southern side is yet to be brought under control, they added.
Officials of both state, Nagaland and Manipur, have claimed that by now the wildfire is expected to have destroyed much of the pristine forest, and harmed the rich biodiversity of the valley, which is a globally famous trekking site.
The Kohima forest division of Nagaland and the Southern Angami Youth Organization (SAYO) has also launched a major operation to contain the forest fire in the valley.
A 300-member team comprising of forest field staff, SAYO volunteers and personnel from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), district executive force (DEF), and 47th Nagaland Armed Police (NAP) reached the valley on December 31 to conduct the operation.