IAF Helicopters Join Firefighting Efforts as Blaze Spreads in Dzükou Valley

Dzükou Valley | January 30, 2026 Two Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopters were deployed on Friday to control a major fire that has been burning in the Dzükou Valley, which lies across the Nagaland–Manipur border. The fire began three days ago and later spread towards Mount Iso, also known as Mount Esii, the highest peak in Manipur. The helicopters were sent from the Eastern Air Command to support firefighting operations in the difficult terrain. Officials said the IAF helicopters carried out several water-dropping sorties during the day. However, the operation could not continue till late afternoon due to cloudy weather conditions. Despite this, authorities confirmed that aerial efforts helped slow down the spread of the fire, which has already caused serious damage to the surrounding landscape. Deputy Commissioner of Kohima, B Henok Buchem, said ground teams have closely monitored the situation and shared updates after visiting the site. “The main Dzükou valley remains untouched by the fire so far. The fire is spreading slowly and remains concentrated primarily around the Dzükou helipad area. With ongoing active intervention by the IAF helicopters, containment is expected to be achieved, and operations are to continue tomorrow,” the DC said. He added that surveillance teams would remain on-site to assess the situation. Authorities confirmed that teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), police, fire department, and several civil society organisations are actively involved in firefighting efforts. Nsonji Lake in Tseminyu district and Padampukhuri Lake in Dimapur have been identified as water sources for the aerial operations. Officials also said the fire moving towards the Manipur side of the valley has been brought under control, though it continues to burn slowly within parts of the valley. “We are on high alert as coordinated efforts continue to contain the blaze,” an official said, stressing the need for constant monitoring due to the valley’s dry conditions. Dzükou Valley holds great ecological and social importance. It serves as a catchment area for several rivers and streams and is covered by dense bamboo forests. The forests north of the valley are home to rare wildlife, including the endangered Blyth’s Tragopan, the state bird of Nagaland. The valley and its surrounding mountain ridges are also a popular tourist destination. This is not the first time the valley has faced such destruction. In December last year, a wildfire damaged a large portion of the western side of the valley, reportedly caused by negligence of unregistered trekkers. Similar fires in 2015 and 2020 had destroyed nearly 8 to 10 square kilometres of the area, prompting IAF intervention in those years as well. Authorities have once again urged caution to protect this fragile and unique ecosystem. IAF Helicopters Deployed as Fire Burns in Dzükou Valley Two Indian Air Force helicopters were deployed on Friday to control a fire raging in the Dzükou Valley along the Nagaland–Manipur border. The fire, which started three days ago, has spread towards Mount Iso, also called Mount Esii, the highest peak in Manipur. The choppers from the Eastern Air Command carried out several water-dropping sorties to slow the spread. Officials said the helicopters could not continue operations till late afternoon due to cloudy weather. The fire has caused damage to the surrounding landscape, though authorities said the main valley area is still safe. Ground teams are closely watching the situation as firefighting efforts continue. Kohima Deputy Commissioner B Henok Buchem said, “The main Dzükou valley remains untouched by the fire so far. The fire is spreading slowly and remains concentrated primarily around the Dzükou helipad area. With ongoing active intervention by the IAF helicopters, containment is expected to be achieved, and operations are to continue tomorrow.” Surveillance teams remain deployed at the site. Teams from the NDRF, SDRF, police, fire services, and civil groups are working together to control the blaze. Water is being sourced from nearby lakes for aerial firefighting. Officials said the fire moving towards Manipur has been contained, adding, “We are on high alert as coordinated efforts continue to contain the blaze.”