OUR REPORTER AIZAWL, APRIL 23
Massive forest engulfed several parts of Mizoram with Lunglei district being the hardest hit, damaging vast tract of land and vegetation, an official of state disaster management and rehabilitation department said on Sunday.
No human casualty has been reported so far, the official said.
He said that at least four districtsLunglei, Serchhip, Lawngtlai and Hnahthial are under the grip of massive forest fires. The forest fire could be more as detailed reports are awaited, he said. He said that firemen were deployed at several incident sites, who were assisted by personnel of Assam Rifles, Border Security Force and local volunteers.
While some settlements or villages are now secured and forest fires were put under control in some areas, several settlements are still vulnerable, the official said.
Meanwhile, Lunglei district deputy commissioner M Misael said that a massive forest fire broke at Saisih forest area on the outskirt of Lunglei town in the southern part of the state.
The forest fire broke out between 6 and 7 am on Saturday and spread to Lunglei town on Sunday.
The fire is mainly concentrated in uninhabited forest areas surrounding the town, and has spread to more than l10 village council areas within the town, he said.
Although the fire is not fully dosed, it is under control at settlement areas, he said.
However, some localities or village councils are still vulnerable as their surrounding areas are still burning, he said.
No human casualty and major loss have been reported in the town due to the fire, he said.
Dry vegetation due to less rainfall coupled with strong winds has made the flame very strong, he said.
The official added that the government would probe the cause of the forest fire as is suspected to be human-made.
Police said that forest fires also broke out in surrounding areas of more than villages in Mizoram’s southernmost Lawngtlai district, bordering Myanmar.
At least 12 houses were gutted at Bungtlang South village in the district by fire, which was spread from the forest on Sunday, the police said.
No casualty has been reported, the police added.
Forest fire incidents were also reported at Darzo and South Vanlaiphai forest areas in Hnahthial district, according to officials.
They said that forest fires also broke out in at least 8 forest areas near Serchhip’s Chanmari veng locality, Chhiahtlang and North Vanlaiphai in Serchhip district. Meanwhile, chief minister Zoramthanga has requested Indian Air Force (IAF) for help.
“On the requisition of the State Government of Mizoram, @IAF_MCC is deploying two Mi-17V5 helicopters, equipped with Bambi Bucket, to douse the major fire in Lunglei district and adjoining areas,” the Ministry of Defence tweeted on Sunday.
State environment, forest and climate change minister TJ Lalnuntluanga and Serlui assembly constituency MLA Lalrinsanga Ralte rushed to Lunglei on Sunday to take stock of the situation.
(Source: The Mizoram Post Vol. 18 Issue 313 Aizawl Monday 26 April 2021 http://www.themizorampost.net/page-view?date=26-04-2121&page_no=1)