A National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel engaged in firefighting operation in the Dzukou Valley has been found dead.

The NDRF personnel – Nongthombam Binoy Meetei was found dead at the base camp.

Nongthombam Binoy Meetei was serving as an Assistant Sub Inspector with the NDRF.

Meetei hails from Luwangshangbam Maning Leikai in Manipur’s Imphal East District.

Meanwhile, mystery shrouds the death of Meetei as the cause of death is yet to be ascertained.

Meetei’s body has been sent to the JNIMS Hospital in Imphal for autopsy.

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh while expressing shock has condoled the death of the NDRF personnel.

Biren Singh met the family members of the deceased NDRF personnel.

“My heartfelt condolences to the family of Assistant Sub-Inspector N Binoy Meetei of @NDRFHQ, who died inside one of the base camps set up on the way to Dzukou Valley to douse the wildfire. His works and sacrifice for the State will ever remain as an inspiration to his fellow citizens,” the Manipur Chief Minister said.

Meanwhile, the wildfire in the Dzukou Valley is “continuously increasing its magnitude”.

This was informed by the NDRF.

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“Originally it was confined to Nagaland state but now it has spread towards the hills of Manipur and is continuously increasing its magnitude,” the NDRF said.

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh has also expressed concern over the forest fire that continues to rage on in the picturesque Dzukou Valley.

Biren Singh said that the fire could serve a massive impact on environment.

“If not controlled on time, Dzuko wildfire could create huge environmental impact destroying vast areas of forest cover, wildlife and their habitats and thousands of plant species having precious medicinal values,” Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh said.

Meanwhile, fresh fire continue to erupt in the Nagaland side of the Dzukou Valley.

The fire broke out at the ecologically sensitive Dzukou Valley in Nagaland on December 29 and started to spread into Manipur side the next day.

Although the actual reason of the breakout of the fire at the Dzukou Valley is yet to be ascertained, it is speculated that the fire must have broken out due to trekkers or campers leaving their resting site without extinguishing their camp fire.

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The Dzukou Valley is situated along the Nagaland-Manipur interstate border. It is famous for its seasonal flowers and flora & fauna.

The valley is famous for the Dzukou Lily which is found only in this Valley.