Mizoram Rings Fire Alarm

Aizawl, Feb 2 : The Mizoram state level fire prevention committee today appealed to the Mizos to be cautious about forest fire with the arrival of dry season which is a period for traditional Jhum burning.

The committee has appealed the Jhum cultivators to make frequent firebreaks to prevent the fire from spreading beyond the boundaries of designated plots.

The committee had been set up at the district and village levels for prevention of fire.

The committee also appealed to all concerned not to leave fire burning in forest camps and to refrain from throwing lighted cigarette butts.

Four people died in the last Jhum burning season which witnessed one of the worst forest fire in recent times.

The state government had also directed all the Jhummias to complete their burning before the end of February.

Eighty per cent of the state's farmers still depend on the traditional system of Jhum cultivation.