Fires in Mizoram are yet to be doused in certain areas of Lawngtlai; locals blame lack of rainfall
Fires were still raging in some parts of Mizoram’s Lawngtlai district April 27, 2021 though they were almost under control in Lunglei, Serchhip and Hnahthial districts, Mizoram Minister of State (Forest and Environment) TJ Lalnuntluanga said.
The fires in the urban areas were also under control, he added.
The fire in the worst-affected Lunglei district in southern Mizoram has been under control since April 26 due to the continuous efforts of the locals along with assistance from Indian Air force (IAF) helicopters, personnel from the paramilitary Assam Rifles and Border Security Force as well as state firemen.
Two IAF Mi-17V5 helicopters, equipped with Bambi Buckets (used for aerial firefighting) were deployed to douse the fires in Lunglei April 26.
“The fire is under control,” Koluthungam A, the deputy commissioner of Lunglei district said.
Fire trajectory
The fire first broke out between 6 and 7am April 24 at the Saisih forest area on the outskirts of Lunglei town. It spread to the town on the following day, according to officials. The fire had been mainly concentrated in uninhabited forest areas surrounding Lunglei town and had spread to many village council areas.
No human casualty has been reported so far due to the fire.
It is estimated that around 100 hectares of forest area might have been affected during the forest fire in Lunglei district. “But we’re yet to calculate areas in detail. Besides, the investigation is on,” Koluthungam said.
About 14 houses at the Bungtlang S area in Lawngtlai district were damaged when the fire spread near the Phawngpui sanctuary areas April 26.
Lalnuntluanga said it was difficult to say as to what caused the fires. “At the moment, we cannot say anything. We’ll be investigating it.”
Some of the suspected causes of the fire, according to him, could be the long dry season due to less rainfall, jhum (shifting) cultivation and possibility of human activity.
“In fact, we’re not getting the usual rainfall this season,” a resident of Electric veng in Lunglei district, told this reporter. “There are annual reports of forest fires in our state. But this kind of widespread massive fire has never happened before.”
Most of the forest fires reported in Mizoram every year occurred in the month of March according to the Fire & Emergency Services department records.
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