SDO, geologists inspect blazing fire
Source: Chronicle News Service

Kangpokpi, March 17 2022: Navigating the risky jungle road, a team of district administration led SDO Kangchup Geljang T Opendro Singh visited Kangchup Makhom for a spot inquiry of the ground fire burning since March 13.The team was accompanied by members of village authority including village chief and youth.

Located around 55km from Kangpokpi town and around 2km away from the village, the spot where the burning fire, presumably a biomass ignition, is a banana farm of Thangminlal Neishiel (53) and Doulam Touthang (70) of Kangchup Makhom.

Doulam Touthang also accompanied the visiting team.

Owing to sunlight, the flame was invisible and hence the villagers put some dry banana leaves over the identified spot.

Within a second, it began to burn thereby testifying burning fire underneath the soil.

As seen in the videos taken by villagers at night, the burning flame was clearly seen to be a mixture of blue, yellow and red colours.

After taking stock of the situation, SDO Opendro Singh told media persons that the fire presumably a biomass ignition has been emitting at various locations in the banana farm and its vicinity and vast area of the banana farm has also been affected.

He continued that he will forward the spot inquiry report to higher authority and further necessary action shall be initiated at the earliest.

He also urged the villagers to not get apprehensive of the incident as it has come to the knowledge of the government and necessary steps would be initiated very soon.

Doulam Touthang said that the fire is being witnessed since March 13 and has destroyed vast area of his banana farm.

He also claimed to have planted more than 3,000 banana plants in the past 6/7 years which serve as the only source of his livelihood.

While expressing his heartfelt gratitude to SDO and his team for their concern, the farmer apprised the SDO for giving appropriate compensation from the side of the government.

Meanwhile, chief Jangkhokam Lotzem also conveyed his heartfelt gratitude to the SDO and his team for conducting a spot inquiry and urged them for giving appropriate compensation to the affected farmers.

Meanwhile, a team of geologists from trade, commerce and industry department also visited the spot on Thursday.

The villagers also informed that a team of ONGC and Geological Survey of India had also visited the spot on Wednesday and took samples for laboratory testing.

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