Kohima: Deputy Commissioner of Kohima B Henok Buchem, NCS, along with SDO (Civil) Sechü-Zubza Imliakum, Nodal Officer Thejangulie Zao, District Commandant HG, CD & SDRF Wopenthung and other district officials from the Police, Forest and Fire & Emergency Services, visited the base camp of teams engaged in combating the Western Dzükou fire at Khonoma, Nagaland, on December 15, 2025.
During the visit, representatives of the Khonoma Youth, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and other government agencies briefed the officials on the prevailing situation. They informed that an inspection team deployed earlier in the day reported smoke emanating from burnt bushes in certain areas, though no active flames were detected.
Officials said the smoke had been largely contained, with personnel from the Khonoma Youth, SDRF and Forest Department maintaining a presence on site. Indian Air Force helicopters, equipped with Bambi buckets, were deployed to suppress residual smoke and prevent flare-ups. As a precautionary measure, Western Dzükou has been temporarily closed to the public.
The Khonoma Youth expressed gratitude for the support extended by all stakeholders during the crisis. They noted that their rescue and response efforts were made possible due to prior training programmes conducted by the Angami Youth Organisation in collaboration with the SDRF.
The adviser of the Khonoma Youth Organisation thanked the Deputy Commissioner in his capacity as Chairman of the District Disaster Management Authority for effective coordination of the operation, adding that the successful response should be highlighted as a model of collaborative disaster management.
A discussion was held on whether to continue operations at the site. While the helicopter crew from Kharagpur, along with youth volunteers and SDRF personnel, expressed confidence that the fire had been contained, it was decided that a team would undertake another trek to Western Dzükou the following day to further assess ground conditions.
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Deputy Commissioner Buchem thanked all those involved in the operation, particularly lauding the cooperation shown by the people of Khonoma.
Earlier in the day, Advisor, NSDMA & NRE, Z Nyusietho Nyuthe, along with Deputy Commissioner Buchem, Nodal Officer Thejangulie Zao and Assistant Manager (Response & Communication), NSDMA, Rendemo Shitio, conducted an aerial survey of the Western and Southern Dzükou areas using a helicopter to assess the overall fire situation.
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