Kohima, Jan 28: A wildfire broke out in the southern part of Dzukou Valley in Kohima district of Nagaland, prompting the evacuation of more than 30 trekkers, officials said on Wednesday.

According to the Kohima District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), the fire is believed to have started on Monday, though it was reported to authorities on Tuesday. The cause and origin of the blaze are yet to be ascertained. The fire spread across parts of the high-altitude valley, raising concerns for trekkers and local volunteers operating in the area.

The district administration, along with the Southern Angami Youth Organisation (SAYO), launched containment and rescue operations to prevent the fire from spreading further. Kohima Deputy Commissioner B Henok Buchem constituted a reconnaissance and rescue team and stated that additional personnel and resources would be deployed if required. An emergency meeting of the DDMA was scheduled for Wednesday afternoon to assess the situation and plan further action.

SAYO president Zasitsolie Beio said the organisation was alerted to the fire on Monday after receiving videos and photographs from volunteers in the valley. The immediate priority was the safe evacuation of trekkers stranded in the affected areas. As a precautionary measure, all trekking activities from the Jakhama and Viswema entry points have been suspended until further notice.

The incident comes weeks after a major wildfire in the Khonoma–Dzukou Valley area last December, which required a coordinated response from multiple agencies to bring the situation under control.