Kohima: In a shocking repetition of the devastating Dzukou valley fire, reports of a second jungle fire in Nagaland's Jakhama came to news on Thursday. According to reports, a massive fire was reported here in the early hours of January 7, causing severe concern among the local people and authorities.
Reportedly, the fire which occurred due to uncertain reasons began in a hilly slope of the Southern Angami region, near St Joseph College in Jakhama, Kohima. The Officer in Charge of Kohima Fire Station informed newspersons that the first reports of the fire were received at the station at 5.17 AM and the first fire brigade reached the location at 6.00 AM. Later, two additional vehicles were sent over to the region to assist the ground response team.
The officer further told that firefighting operations continued at the spot for 10 hours within which it had even managed to spread around the surroundings. The entire response team was led by one SI, 3 ASI, 11 firemen and 3 drivers.
However, after 10 hours of dousing operations, the fire department confirmed that the fire was contained and brought under control at around 4.15 PM in the evening.
The incident reportedly scared the inhabitants of the nearby Jakhama village who informed that the particular slope is known to the locals as 'Khadihela ' and the name of the mount is 'Chemyo'.
The fire has set ablaze around 100 acres of land which is located above the college. Officials informed that although no casualties were reported, a total estimate of the loss of property undergone in the fire breakout has not yet been ascertained.
Reportedly, local villagers, firefighters and volunteers were said to cooperate and work together in dousing the fire.
The fire was moving downwards towards Zhodi, a residential area close to the incident and had it not been for the timely intervention, the fire could have set ablaze the villages too.
According to some informers, the fire was allegedly started by unidentified persons in a cultivation area on the night of January 6 which by the early morning hours spread across to the top of the mountain.
It is worth mentioning that senior officials including Advisor to CM Nagaland and Technical Education, Election, Medo Yhokha along with DC Kohima, ADC Kohima, Jakhama Village Council Chairman, DDMO Thejangulie Zao, NDRF, Fire and Emergency Services personnel had visited the site of fire and confirmed that this fire was not related in any way to the Dzukou valley fire.